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10 Popular Christmas Traditions And Their Origins

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2023

Editor

Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Understanding the traditions associated with Christmas is important because, by knowing the origins and meanings behind these traditions, we can appreciate their depth and significance. This article explores the fascinating stories behind popular Christmas traditions.

Here are some of the popular Christmas traditions:

1. Red and green

When we think of Christmas, we often think of red and green decorations or red and green clothing. According to research, the association of the colours red and green with Christmas is traced back to a certain plant: holly. Holly plants are known for their bright green leaves and red berries.

Today, Christians have adopted the holly tree as a symbol for Christmas. The sharp leaves are said to symbolise the crown of thorns worn by Christ, while the berries represent his blood. Holly is a winter-blooming plant and may be one of the few signs of green during the season. Over time, the combination of red and green has become deeply ingrained in Christmas traditions, decorations, and imagery, representing the warmth and joy of the holiday.

2. Santa Claus

A main inspiration for Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas, a third-century Christian who was known for his kindness and charity. He also enjoyed giving kids gifts in secret. He later became a local folk hero, and stories about him expanded into elaborate myths and legends over the centuries. Over time, different customs and stories merged to create the modern image of Santa Claus that we know today.

With each new story, different cultures and peoples would add their unique twists and embellishments to the story of St. Nicholas.

As time went on, these characters barely resembled the original St. Nicholas and became totally new figures separate from him.

Today, many countries in the world tell stories of many different versions of a St. Nicholas-inspired character that gives gifts to children during Christmas.

3. Santa’s elves

According to legends, elves were small dwarf-like creatures with pointy ears who protected good people from evil. They stay at the North Pole with the legendary Christmas figure, Santa Claus, to help him in his workshop. These young magical creatures came in both genders and wore pointy hats and red and green clothes. They had long noses and sharp ears.

These elves worked in Santa’s workshop, assisting him in the creation of toys for good children all over the world. Apart from helping Santa in his workshop, the elves were also in charge of caring for Santa’s reindeer and carriage.

4. Santa’s reindeer

Since the release of Clement Clark Moore’s poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’ in 1823, reindeer have been known as Santa’s sleigh pullers. From their habitat in the cold, icy Arctic, reindeer have evolved unique features that help them thrive in these harsh environments and make them the perfect Santa’s helpers. Their hooves have the ability to grow and shrink, depending on the season. Santa Claus’ reindeer are said to pull a sleigh through the night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve.

5. Christmas stockings

This tradition can be traced back to the original Saint Nicholas, who was said to have put gold coins in the stockings of three poor sisters. One night, the girls left their stockings drying over the fireplace. Saint Nicholas knew the family was very poor, so he threw three bags of gold coins down the chimney. The money landed in the sisters’ stockings. Since then, children have been taught to hang up their Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve, hoping to find them filled with gifts in the morning. This comes with the anticipation and excitement of receiving presents.

6. Christmas trees

The Christmas tree is a cherished tradition. People bring a beautiful evergreen tree into their homes and decorate it with lights, ornaments, and garlands. Families often gather around the tree to exchange gifts. Decorating buildings with trees during the winter is a practice that can be traced back to ancient peoples like the Romans and Egyptians, who often used trees to add to the beauty of shrines or temples.

However, the modern Christmas tree is said to come from German medieval traditions. Germans would decorate a tree in their homes on December 24 in order to celebrate the feast day of Adam and Eve. As time went on, these trees would also be used to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during Christmas. Whether real or fake, a beautifully decorated Christmas tree can often be found inside a heavily decorated home, just waiting for St. Nick to put wonderful presents (or a pair of socks) underneath it.

7. Presents

St. Nicholas was known to give gifts to children, which is why his ‘descendant’, Santa Claus, does so as well. Gift-giving also has its roots in pagan rituals held during the winter. When Christianity folded these rituals into Christmas, the justification for bearing gifts was redirected to the Three Wise Men, the Magi, who gave gifts to the infant Jesus. As for modern Christmas gift-giving, this tradition seems to have been strengthened and encouraged thanks to the popularity of Santa Claus and the commercialization of Christmas.

8. Christmas Carol

Carols have their roots in pagan rituals appropriated by the nascent Christian Church when, in the 4th century, it officially named Christmas the celebration of Christ Jesus’ birth. Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas carols. They were pre-Christian or pagan songs sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around December 22. Christmas, remembering the birth of Jesus, then started to be celebrated at the same time as the solstice, so the early Christians started singing Christian songs instead of pre-Christian or pagan ones.

9. Christmas bells

You cannot talk about the sounds of Christmas without mentioning Christmas bells. Bells have always been rung for a variety of reasons. The ringing of bells has been an important part of celebrating Christmas since ancient times. Bells have been used in the past to not only provide music and a sense of celebration, but they have also been rung to announce the arrival of the Christmas season. They can symbolize the announcement of the birth of Christ. Bells were also part of the Jewish high priest’s garments. Christmas bells not only symbolize the joy of Christmas; they also remind us that Christ is the High Priest.

Christmas bells can be seen on light posts that light up the streets at night, are hung on many Christmas trees, and can be heard in every house in America that celebrates Christmas.

10. Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on December 26. Boxing Day got its name when Queen Victoria was on the throne. In Victorian times, the wealthy would box up items they no longer needed to give to the poor. It was a day where servants would be given time off and thanked for their hard work with a ‘special box’ of treats.

Other reports say that many people believe that the tradition of Boxing Day began in churches in the Middle Ages, where parishioners would collect money for the poor. This was done to honour St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose feast day fell on December 26
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South African Court Finds Radical Politician Malema Guilty On Gun Charges

Published

7 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

A South African court on Wednesday found firebrand opposition leader Julius Malema guilty of violating gun laws for firing an assault rifle at a 2018 rally.

Malema, leader of the radical anti-capitalist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, is known for fiery speeches and courting political tensions both at home and abroad.

The 44-year-old and his former bodyguard were charged with firing the gun in the air during the EFF’s fifth birthday celebration in Eastern Cape province.

The court found him guilty of unlawful possession, reckless endangerment, among other charges, the National Prosecuting Authority said.

Malema could face up to 15 years in prison. The case will be heard on January 23 next year for pre-sentencing.

Malema, who was present in court for the verdict, said he will appeal the decision.

Speaking to supporters outside, he struck a defiant tone: “As a revolutionary, going to prison or death is a badge of honour. We cannot be scared of prison or dying for the revolution.”

In August, Malema was found guilty of hate speech for telling his supporters at a 2022 rally that they should “never be scared to kill.”

He has long been criticised by South Africa’s white minority for his radical rhetoric and his singing of the anti-apartheid song “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, which some say incites anti-white violence.

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Church Scaffold Collapse Kills 36

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9 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

Makeshift scaffolding set up at a church in Ethiopia collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and injuring more than 200, state media said.

The incident occurred at around 7:45 am in the town of Arerti, roughly 70 kilometres (40 miles) east of the capital Addis Ababa, when a group was visiting for an annual Virgin Mary festival.

District police chief Ahmed Gebeyehu told state media Fana: “The number of dead has reached 36 and could increase more”, adding “more than 200 people have suffered injuries” and were receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Some people remained under the rubble, local official Atnafu Abate told the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), without giving further details about those trapped or possible rescue efforts.

He said some of the more seriously hurt were taken to hospitals in the capital.

Images shared on the EBC’s official Facebook page showed a mess of collapsed wooden poles, with crowds gathering amid the dense debris.

Other pictures appeared to show the outside of the church where scaffolding had been precariously constructed.

A government statement shared by EBC expressed condolences and added that “safety must be given priority”.

Health and safety regulations are virtually non-existent in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, and construction accidents are common.

The sprawling country is a mosaic of 80 ethnic groups and has one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.

Its predecessor, the Axumite Empire, declared Christianity the state religion in the fourth century.

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Rescuers Pull Survivor From Indonesia School Collapse As Parents Await

Published

9 hours ago

October 1, 2025

Editor

Rescuers pulled a survivor from the ruins of a collapsed school in Indonesia on Wednesday, as desperate parents demanded that searchers speed up efforts to find dozens more still believed trapped in the rubble.

Part of the multi-storey school on the island of Java gave way suddenly on Monday, as students gathered for afternoon prayers.

On Wednesday, rescuers said they had retrieved a survivor and a fourth body from the ruined building, but gave no details on either.

Based on school records, “91 people are suspected to be buried,” National Disaster and Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement late Tuesday.

Tearful parents milled near the ruins throughout Wednesday, awaiting news of their children.

“We believe our children might still be alive because they were crying for help,” said father Abdul Hanan, whose 14-year-old son is missing. “The rescue operation must be accelerated.”

“We are racing against time now,” the 45-year-old added, bursting into tears.

Nearby, Dewi Sulistiana was awaiting news of her 14-year-old son, with whom she was last in touch on Sunday. The boarding school limits student access to cellphones.

She rushed to the scene from Surabaya, several dozen kilometres (miles) away, after hearing about the collapse.

“I have been here for days. I cried thinking about my son,” she told AFP. “Why is it taking so long to find him? Why is the search so slow? I haven’t had any updates, so I just wait.”

The rescue operation is complex, said Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

“If vibration happens in one spot, it could affect other places. So now, to reach the spot where the victims are, we have to dig an underground tunnel,” he told reporters.

Digging itself poses challenges, including possible landslides. And any tunnel will only provide an access route around 60 centimetres (about 23 inches) wide because of the structure’s concrete columns.

Technology, including thermal-sensing drones, is being used to locate survivors and the deceased as the 72-hour “golden period” for best survival chances nears its end.

AFP saw rescuers in orange uniforms appearing to snake cameras under the rubble to hunt for traces of survivors.

So far, signs of life have been detected in seven areas, said Emi Freezer, of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Water and food were being sent in, but access was through a single point, he said. “The main structure has totally collapsed.”

Complicating the operation, an earthquake struck offshore overnight, briefly halting the search.

Around the ruins, local charitable organisations have set up posts offering families food and drink.

The school collapse was so violent it sent tremors across the neighbourhood, said local resident Ani.

“I felt a vibration, and then I heard a noise. I immediately ran to save myself. I didn’t realise at first it was a building collapse,” the grocery stall owner told AFP.

“Many people then also ran to save themselves,” she added.

Investigations into the cause of the collapse were ongoing, but initial signs point to structural issues and construction that did not meet building standards, experts said.

The building collapsed after its foundation pillars failed to support the weight of new construction on the fourth floor of the school, said the national disaster management agency spokesman.

Lax construction standards have raised widespread concerns about building safety in Indonesia, where it is common to leave structures — particularly houses — partially completed, allowing owners to add extra floors later when their budgets permit.s

Earlier this month, at least three people were killed and dozens were injured when a building hosting a prayer recital collapsed in West Java province.

AFP