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AAA presents Holiday Traditions Unwrapped
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|  Holiday Traditions Unwrapped Sandy Klim, AAA Going Places |  | | 'Tis the season to celebrate...
And as the weather cools, we'll begin preparations for family get-togethers, gift giving, decorating, baking and all the other traditions that make our holidays memorable. I sometimes wonder where some of these traditions started—like who came up with putting a tree in their home? Or kissing under the mistletoe? And what's up with the big guy in red who climbs down our chimney? I've decided to unwrap some of the mysteries behind our most beloved traditions. | | Pampered Pets Yep, they're like family. According to a recent poll, 80 percent of dog owners buy their dogs a holiday gift—and 61 percent of cat owners bestow presents on their felines. But cats and dogs aren't the only pets with something under the tree. About 32 percent of small animal owners purchase gifts, 31 percent of bird owners, 18 percent of horse owners, 9 percent of reptile owners, and only 6 percent of fish owners bought their little flippered friends a gift. | 
| | O Christmas Tree Ancient Romans were the first to decorate trees with small pieces of metal during the winter festival. The oldest record of a decorated Christmas tree (with paper roses, apples and candies) came from a 1605 diary found in Strasburg, France. In America, Christmas trees were introduced in the early 1800s, but it wasn't until 1842 in Williamsburg, VA, that they became fashionable. Today, more than 30 million live Christmas trees are sold each year (and more than 70 million trees will be planted).
All Aglow Around the time of Queen Victoria's reign, illuminated Christmas trees using small candles became popular. It was in 1882 that Thomas Edison's assistant developed Christmas lights that ran on electricity, making it possible to light outdoor trees. Over time, strings of Christmas lights and illuminated displays moved from outdoor trees to entire front yards and neighborhoods. | | 
| The Menorah The official symbol of the Jewish faith, it is used during Hanukkah as a commemoration of the triumph of the Maccabees. Every night for eight nights, Jewish people light candles on a menorah, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle. In order to preserve the holiness of the original menorah, rabbis forbade the use of an exact replica of the seven-branched menorah. That's why candles are lit in an eight-branched menorah, called a "Hanukiyah," to differentiate it from the seven-branched Menorah of the Temple. | | Pucker Up! For centuries, both Celtics and Greeks thought the hardy branches of mistletoe had mystical powers. Some placed it over doorways to prevent the entrance of witches, others felt it had the power to bestow fertility. Some even believed it possessed "life-giving" properties. The English first used its magical appeal as a kissing ball. At Christmas, a young lady who stood under the mistletoe couldn't refuse a kiss. If the girl remained unkissed, she wouldn't marry the following year. Today, mistletoe kisses can be exchanged anytime during the holiday season. Christmas Story What began as a sacred religious holiday has become a cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. The holiday began its rise in popularity around 1820 with the book The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving. Popularity grew even more with Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in 1834. The earliest Christmas traditions were more spiritually oriented than today's celebration of the holiday. | | 
| Fruit-in-Cake? The earliest fruitcake recipe is from ancient Rome and included barley mash and raisins. By the Middle Ages, honey, spices and preserved fruit were added, and it became a favorite of American colonists for its shelf life. | | Two well-known Southern bakeries produced fruitcakes (and had access to cheap nuts, which they used liberally), giving us the catalyst for the expression "nutty as a fruitcake." The poor fruitcake has been a ridiculed dessert, and some blame Tonight Show host Johnny Carson. He joked that, "There really is only one fruitcake in the world; it's just passed from family to family." | | There is a AAA Auto Club Office Right Here in Tallahassee. They can help you face-to-face with: - AAA Membership
- Travel
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They are located on Kerry Forest Parkway right next to The Red Elephant. Stop by or give them a call at (850) 907-1000. CLICK HERE and a Local Tallahassee Representative will Contact You Today! | |
Tags: AAA Holiday Traditions Unwrapped
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