GLOSSARY

There is no ideal Christmas, only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections and traditions. Is Christmas yet another good excuse for buying and selling? Do you wonder about the origin of the symbols of the season? Let’s see what is beneath the layers of consumerism and how the December holiday traditions came to existence.

There are many folk lores behind the Christmas traditions. In today’s world of consumerism, Christmas is becoming a materialistic festivity. Everybody has a different sentiment about it as well as different Christmas traditions. They depend on your religious beliefs, personal preferences, and your upbringing. Yet, the traditions have been created by the people and for the people and it would add purpose to the celebration if we were more aware of the meaning of the traditions we celebrate.

We wish a very merry Christmas to everyone hoping to put even more symbolism into the celebration and give a deeper meaning to this wonderful season.

All throughout December we celebrate a number of saints who represent the good and the noble acts to be remembered. We will talk about the three most celebrated ones. ST. NICHOLAS is the patron saint of children and marks the beginning of the festive Christmas. He is also a patron of sailors, orphans, travellers and all those suffering and in need.

December 6th or St. Nicholas Day is said to be the beginning of little Christmas. The legend says that St. Nicholas was a gift-giver, leaving the gifts secretly in a stocking. Today all over the world children hang their stockings on St. Nicholas day waiting for him to stop by.

In Sweden, Norway and Denmark ST. LUCIA is a festival celebrated on December 13th. She is celebrated in various ways and countries, including in Croatia. The basic meaning of this saint is that she brings light in the dark winter and good forces in life.

Another deeply revered saint is celebrated on December 26th, ST. STEPHEN’S DAY. St. Stephen is the first Christian martyr for his faith. He is the patron saint of horses so this festivity is associated with horse-racing and hunting sports activities. BOXING DAY is another name for St. Stephen’s day. The name itself dates back to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is not known. It is said that the Lords and ladies of England gave their Christmas gifts (boxes) to their servants on December 26.

Finally, CHRISTMAS DAY is the biggest day of the holiday season. It’s a family celebration starting on Christmas Eve when children hang up a stocking waiting for a gift from Santa Clause or Father Christmas on Christmas morning.

But for most people, Christmas is the day when they hope to get more than presents. We somehow want to return to our childhood when life was simple and free of adult troubles. Things have changed in many ways since then. There were more carollers going from door to door singing Christmas songs or caroling, more time spent hand-making presents and less time spent in crowded shopping malls. However, we still hope and believe that underneath all those decorations and gifts there is a key to happiness, love and hope.