Over the years, Christian scholars and educators have developed their own histories of the traditions. Here is a gathering of some of their lore and legends...
Father Francis X. Weiser tells of some other old customs of this day:
In some parts of central Europe ancient customs of "driving demons away are practised on the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle (December 21) and during the following nights (Rough Nights), with much noise, cracking of whips, ringing of hand bells, and parades of figures in horrible masks.
In a Christianized version of this custom farmers will walk through the buildings and around the farmyard, accompanied by a son or one of the farm hands. They carry incense and holy water, which they sprinkle around as they walk. Meanwhile, the rest of the family and servants are gathered in the living room reciting the rosary. This rite is to sanctify and bless the whole farm in preparation for Christmas, to keep all evil spirits away on the festive days, and to obtain God's special protection for the coming year.
— Handbook of Christian Feast and Customs, ©1952.
Bells
Bells being rung on Christmas morning has been and is done to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
A legend that has been told is that the bells were rung for an hour before midnight on the first Christmas eve, this was said to have been done to warn the forces of darkness of the imminent birth of the Saviour. At the stroke of midnight, the peal of the bells changed pitch into a joyous peal.
The bells sounding was also for another purpose as well. Just as bells are tolled to announce the death of someone they were also rung to tell the 'death' of the Devil which was brought upon by the coming of Jesus Christ. The church bell was also known as 'the Old Lad's Passing bell', 'Old Lad' which was said to be a euphemism for Satan. The bells pealing has also been assumed to chase away evil spirits, which are said to be repelled by noise of any kind.- even the clinking of glasses
There are many types of Christmas bells for the season. They can be heard on Christmas morning, they are used as decoration on Christmas cards as well as on the Christmas tree. Wassailers would use them to announce their presence by ringing them, so did Father Christmas, with jingling bells accompanying his sleigh progress.
http://helenteacher.taba.ru/Obratnaya_svyaz/Prazdniki_angloyazychnyh_stran/464216_Christmas.html
Holly Wreath:
A legend says that Christ's crown of thorns was made of holly with white berries. When Christ bled, his blood turned the berries red. So the prickly holly represents the crown of thorns and the berries, the blood he shed.
Holly :Christian
Holly evergreen symbolizes eternal life. Most conspicuous features have been associated with Christ. Bright red berries represent Christ’s blood, prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns.
Christians believed that the berries had been white before they were turned red by Christ's blood when He was made to wear the crown of thorns.
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/winterlandscaping1/a/holly_trees.htm
For the Romans, "Holly was used to honor Saturn, god of agriculture, during their Saturnalia festival held near the time of the winter solstice. The Romans gave one another holly wreaths, carried it in processions, and decked images of Saturn with it," http://landscaping.about.com/cs/winterlandscaping1/a/holly_trees.htm
Candy canes
shepherd's staff- jesus was the good shpeherd
red symbolizes his sacrifice- mint =the gift of spice
Upisde down J for jesus
Bells
Bells being rung on Christmas morning has been and is done to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
A legend that has been told is that the bells were rung for an hour before midnight on the first Christmas eve, this was said to have been done to warm the forces of darkness of the imminent birth of the Saviour. At the stroke of midnight, the peal of the bells changed pitch into a joyous peal.
The bells sounding was also for another purpose as well. Just as bells are tolled to announce the death of someone they were also rung to tell the 'death' of the Devil which was brought upon by the coming of Jesus Christ. The church bell was also known as 'the Old Lad's Passing bell', 'Old Lad' which was said to be a euphenism for Satan. The bells pealing has also been assumed to chase away evil spirits, which are said to be repelled by noise of any kind.- even the clinking of glasses sb
There are many types of Christmas bells for the season. They can be heard on Christmas morning, they are used as decoration on Christmas cards as well as on the Christmas tree. Wassailers would use them to announce their presence by ringing them, so did Father Christmas, with jingling bells accompanying his sleigh progress.
http://helenteacher.taba.ru/Obratnaya_svyaz/Prazdniki_angloyazychnyh_stran/464216_Christmas.html
Gingerbread Men – Christian
There is a tale of St Nicolas, that tells of him approaching a ship during a famine to request some grain. It is said that he baked some bread but that he also made cookies of himself.
This special cookie of St Nick is called the Speculatius, (meaning "image,") and is gingerbread figure of a bishop. Apparently he made a mold of wood and pressed the cookies into his shape.
The Three magi: The Bible
Biblical evidence indicates that when the Magi or wise men visited the child Jesus, he was a toddler, about 2 years of age, not a new-born infant as typically portrayed. The wise men from the East (possibly from Persia and a year's journey away) are said to have found Mary and Joseph's house (they explicitly had a house by this time) and presented gifts. Most depictions of the Wise Men are based on tradition, and tradition says that there were three while St. Augustine and St. Chrysostom said there were 12. Tradition expands upon the story with a rich biography. It says they were Melchior, King of Arabia, age 60, who brought a casket of gold, Caspar, King of Tarsus, 20, who brought myrrh in a gold mounted horn, Balthasar, King of Ethiopia, 40 who brought frankincense in a censer. Gold symbolizes Kingship, frankincense is a gift for a high priest, and myrrh for a great physician. Tradition assigns the date of this visit to January 6, Epiphany, known as Twelfth Night.
Evergreens: Holly
The evergreen holly symbolises eternal life. This shrub's most conspicuous features have long been associated with Jesus Christ. The bright red berries represent the drops of blood He shed on the cross; their color also represented the burning love for God present in the hearts of the faithful. The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns the Roman soldiers placed on Jesus Christ's head.