Mistletoe
The likeliest explanation for the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is that Druids, followers of a pre-Christian Celtic faith, consider it a symbol of fertility.
Mistletoe grows even in the thick of winter. The Druids noted the similarity between the white, viscous sap in mistletoe berries and a certain substance essential to human reproduction.
To kiss in the presence of such a powerful symbol, the Druids thought, was certain to increase the chances of conception.
Perhaps that’s something to think about next time you go to a holiday party.
Traditionally, after each kiss under the mistletoe, the man is supposed to remove a berry. Once the sprig has lost all its berries, it loses its powers of fertility, too, and no longer obliges those underneath to lock lips.
Dreidel
While in modern times we associate dreidels with games and singing, the Jews of the 3rd century B.C. saw them as the only thing standing between their religion and execution, according to legend.
Back then, the Holy Land was occupied by Greek Syrians who, among other things, outlawed studying the Torah, making it punishable by death.
Devout Jews continued their religious studies secretly in caves or forests. When the Jews, huddled around their Torahs, heard the Greeks coming, they would quickly put the scriptures away and begin spinning dreidels to make it appear as though they had only gathered to play a game.
Kinara
Kwanzaa is a modern descendant of ancient African celebrations of the first fruits of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “first fruits.”
Maulana Karenga, a former chairman of African studies at California State University, Long Beach, created the celebration in 1966 to celebrate African heritage.
Modern Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. It seeks to affirm, among other things, seven communitarian virtues: faith, self-determination, creativity, purpose, cooperative economics, collective responsibility and unity.
The Kinara is a candle holder. On it, one candle burns for each of the virtues.
Christmas Trees
It took the Angelina Jolie of the 19th century, Queen Victoria of England, to popularize the Christmas tree in America.
In 1850, an engraving of the queen celebrating Christmas with an elaborately decorated evergreen hit U.S. publications. Soon, trees appeared in the homes of many in the American upper class.
The custom of associating evergreen trees with Christmas originated in Germany in the 16th century. It descended from an older pagan tradition that celebrated the trees during the winter solstice.
Until the queen showed them favor, Christmas trees had been frowned upon, even outlawed in the English-speaking world.