Blog tagged "Christmas Traditions" Page 5

Legend of the Bird's Nest

Posted on October 13, 2014 | 0 Comments

"Bird nests are symbols of home; they represent the love, commitment, and effort it takes to build a happy home. Bird nests are also good-luck symbols. Legend has it that prosperity will come to any home that finds a bird's nest nestled among the branches of the family Christmas tree." - Inge-Glas

This legend is one that has been traced back to Iceland, Sweden, and Germany. The many varied versions of the legend include in that prosperity: health, happiness, friendship, and good luck. Nests it turns out are not where birds sleep (roost) - they are for keeping eggs and chicks in place. They are a home for new life. Audubon Magazine has a wonderful article, Small Miracles: The Wonder of Birds' Nests, with a delightful gallery of photographs of Birds' Nests by Sharon Beals.

The bird's nest is a charming tradition to add to your celebrations. A bird nest, a bird sitting on its nest, or a simple bird are the most natural of all ornaments to place in or on the tip of a branch on your tree. Birds are the number one figural Christmas ornament. Inge-Glas presents a full complement of bird ornaments, to include a number of delightful "bird's nest" ornaments.

Nestled Beauty

Hetty on Her Nest

Robin on Her Nest

Add the Legend of the Bird's Nest to your Christmas traditions.

You may also enjoy our Inge-Glas Pinterest Board.

Posted in Christmas Legends, Christmas Traditions, German Christmas, Inge-Glas

Advent - History - Calendars and Candles

Posted on October 12, 2014 | 0 Comments

The tradition of Advent calendars has for many of us become an integral part of Christmas.

Within the Christian Church, Advent is tied to November 30th, the Feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. Advent begins each year on the Sunday nearest St. Andrew's day and celebrates the anticipation of Christ's birth.

Printed Advent calendars were first produced by Gerhard Lang of Germany in the early 1900s. He was inspired by a calendar drawn by his mother and mounted on cardboard that included 24 pictures - one for each day of December through Christmas Eve. Lang took his mother's calendar one step further, creating the little doors that we know today. Enjoyed by children and adults alike, Advent calendars celebrate the Christmas season, and in a simple and yet magical way help us to focus on the beauty of the wait, a wait that is of course filled with all the wonderful preparations for the holiday.

My Growing Traditions offers a full selection of printed Advent calendars. We add new ones to our selection each year. We have:

Traditional Advent Calendars - where you will find Angels and Elves, Santas, and a 3-D Gingerbread House. Click here to explore our selection

Nativity Advent Calendars - with bible verses revealed underneath their doors. Click here

and wonderful Advent Calendars of European Cities from Brück and Sohn (Printers in Meissen, Germany since 1793). This one, one of many, is of Dresden, home of the first Christmas market in Germany. The first reference to Dresden's Christmas market was in 1434.

The Danish have their own distinct way of capturing the Advent season, with their Advent candles. Everyone enjoys pausing each day to burn down the candle one additional notch as they await the anticipated celebration of Christmas on December 25. We carry three and know you will delight in their use.

You may want to follow our Advent Board on Pinterest for more.

Posted in Advent, Angels, Brück and Sohn, Christmas Candles, Christmas Traditions, German Christmas

Celebrating Christmas Traditions - Apple's Christmas Ad wins 2014 Creative Arts Emmy

Posted on August 19, 2014 | 0 Comments

This wonderful, touching, ad from Apple epitomizes the meaningfulness of every family's Christmas traditions. Enjoy!

Posted in Christmas Traditions

Santa Lucia's Day - Saint Lucy

Posted on December 13, 2013 | 0 Comments

December 13th is Santa Lucia's Day. It is celebrated throughout Europe, but especially in the Scandinavia countries. Inge-Glas of Germany memorializes her in their lovely mouth-blown Christmas ornament

Today's blog post of Lavender and Lovage is one you will enjoy. Visit their page about Saint Lucy - for a recipe for Saffron buns and more. Lavender and Lovage provides a simple and wonderful description of the Scandinavian Santa Lucia traditions on December 13th.

"The oldest daughter of the family rises just before dawn and dresses in a white gown with a red sash, which symbolises Lucia's purity and her martyrdom. On her head she places a crown of lingonberry twigs and leaves in which candles are set, in memory of the candles Lucia wore when she visited the prisoners. She is now the 'Lucia bride' or the 'Queen of lights". She then prepares fresh coffee, ginger biscuits, and Lussekatter (meaning 'cat' buns or cakes'), which she takes to her parents in bed."