Christmas in Bethlehem – The birthplace of Jesus Christ Given the conflict that takes place there today, it’s difficult to imagine that Bethlehem was once a calm and welcoming haven for a desperate couple seeking refuge for a woman in labor. No series on the traditions of Christmas would be complete without a look at […]
If you’re enjoying our traditions of Christmas series as much as we hope you are, then you’ll forgive us if our gaze lingers on Christmas in Austria. At Ornamentshop.com, we marvel that this vibrant country — located thousands of miles away from the East Coast of the United States and even further from the West […]
At Christmastime especially, we celebrate our ethnicity – in big ways and small ways and especially with food and special dishes that are prepared only once a year. Every family celebrates its history and customs and, in doing so, perpetuates the traditions of Christmas that they hold dear. In this spirit, Ornamentshop.com is delighted to […]
With only 1% of the Chinese population Christian, you might think Christmas is not celebrated in China. However, Christians in China have similar traditions as the United States. They celebrate Christmas in China by decorating their houses with paper lanterns and lighting, and trim their Christmas tree with paper flowers, chains, and lanterns. Chinese Christians […]
Iceland’s version of Christmas is called Yule/Jol and began before the advent of Christianity. The “drinking of Yule” was part of the Yule celebrations in the Icelandic Sagas. Many stories and poems refer to the feasts, farmers drinking Yule ale together, and bringing back malt from America to make the ale. Chieftains would invite many […]