Posts Tagged ‘Old’
We see the very first Christmas presents being given far back in history. In ancient Rome, during the feast of Kalends, it was tradition for the high-ranking officials to give gifts to the Roman Emperor. This wasnâ??t technically a Christian holiday (it was actually pagan) but it does coincide with the time of year and the gift-giving tradition.
A person who jump-started the gift-giving traditions at Christmas was good old Saint Nicholas. He was known for giving gifts.
Christmas presents as we know them today actually started in America. Itâ??s been a longtime tradition to give little gifts to friends and family, but the massive giving that goes on nowadays is a creation all our own.
In the early 1800s stores and companies started advertising Christmas gifts. By the 1840s, the tradition of lavish giving was fully ingrained into American society.
Giving gifts to those we love is in sync with the true spirit of Christmas. So let the Christmas presents roll – itâ??s a wonderful time of year.
Youâ??ve probably gotten at least one Christmas letter in your life. Some people love them, others hate them. When did the tradition begin?
The first actual Christmas letter was probably written hundreds of years ago. The tradition of sending â??greetingsâ? to family members over the holidays has been around longer than the actual â??greeting cardâ? so itâ??s safe to say that Christmas letters were the original â??Christmas greetingâ? of choice. Read the rest of this entry »
Carried forward through the years by each new generation, old family traditions are a powerful means of strengthening the bonds that hold families together. Old family traditions often serve to connect the older generation with the new generation, encouraging interaction through shared activities, and can also offer a way for families separated by distance to feel close.
Many of the most meaningful old family traditions revolve around food, with families gathering to eat and celebrate together. Often the foods served at the meal are determined by tradition, with recipes passed down from generation to generation or specific family members preparing their specialties year after year.
That food should serve as a centerpiece for so many of the old family traditions that are passed to the new generation comes as no surprise. Food is essential to survival, and being grateful for the success of its production, whether through agriculture or the hunt, is at the base of not only many old family traditions, but also many of the world’s ancient religions. Read the rest of this entry »