Top 10 Traditional Holiday Decor Items (and Their Origins)

Home decor

Many holiday decorations, such as a decorated Christmas tree, have interesting histories. Learn more about Christmas traditions!
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The period between late fall and early winter is commonly known as “The Decorating Season” due to various holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s. These holidays call for a range of decorations, from tangled strings of lights to perfectly centered wreaths on the front door. However, have you ever wondered where these traditional decoration items came from? Read on to learn about the histories behind the most common holiday decor items.

10: Holiday Lights

Twinkling light displays have become a holiday tradition worldwide.
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Holidays are symbolized by lights, across numerous faiths. For instance, Christians who celebrate Christmas hang lights or line their streets with illuminaria to symbolically guide the Christ child from Heaven to earth. Holiday lighting is a tradition that predates electric lights by centuries. However, with a range of bulb sizes, colors, and arrangements, almost everyone now practices this tradition with bulbs instead of fire-prone candles.

9: Wreaths

A beautiful wreath on the door welcomes guests to holiday celebrations.
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A wreath made of pine boughs is a favorite holiday tradition, and wreaths have a long history predating the associated holidays. Wreaths made from laurel or olive branches have symbolized victory since Greek times. Additionally, pagan Germanic and Scandinavian cultures used candlelit wreaths to symbolize hope for the future as they awaited the return of the sun after the winter solstice. In Christian tradition, a four-candle Advent wreath marks the weeks leading up to Christmas. However, the simplicity of creating a wreath from evergreen, holly, or even flowers or holiday candy means that wreaths are a seasonal mainstay in homes worldwide regardless of faith.

8: Garlands

Garlands draped over mantles or banisters add a natural touch to holiday decor.
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Following the holiday wreath is the garland, which has fairly practical roots. In the dark, early days of winter, evergreen boughs are one of the few natural ways to bring color into the home after fall’s gold and orange leaves have faded and dropped from the trees.

Fresh garlands are a versatile option for decorating due to their rich color, texture, and aroma. Although creating a long garland can be a messy and time-consuming task, it is worth it, especially for homes with long banisters or porch rails.

Christmas trees have become one of the most popular decorations during the holiday season, from Rockefeller Center in New York City to the White House Lawn. The tradition of decorating evergreen trees originated in Norse celebrations of the winter solstice, meant to bring hope to the long nights. The tradition was assimilated over time by Roman occupiers and early Christians, who adapted it to today’s tradition of adding lights and decorations.

Dreidels are a traditional Hanukkah toy and are used in a game where players spin the top and win chocolate coins or other “currency” from a central pot. The four-sided top has a Hebrew letter on each side representing the phrase “a great miracle happened here.”

The menorah is central to Hanukkah, celebrating the Maccabees’ recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks. The temple’s menorah had been extinguished, and the Maccabees only had enough oil to keep its flame lit for one day. However, the flame burned for eight days on the sparse oil, giving the Maccabees time to find more oil for the eternal flame. Hanukkah celebrators exchange gifts for eight days and light the menorah ceremonially on each of the eight nights.

Although socks can take on a life of their own after a day’s use, millions of Christmas revelers hang their stockings over the mantle on Christmas Eve, hoping to find them loaded with gifts in the morning.

The origin story of this tradition is quite lovely. In the fourth century, a Turkish bishop named St. Nicholas of Myra visited the home of a poor family with several unmarried daughters who couldn’t afford dowries. The girls had hung their stockings by the fire to dry, and St. Nicholas put gold coins into each one. The girls woke up to find their dowries paid for by an anonymous benefactor, and thus began the tradition of Santa Claus that has spread across the world.

3: Nativity Scenes

Nativity scenes, both big and small, are used to portray the birth of Jesus during Christmas.
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A classic decoration, nativity scenes represent the birth of Jesus, which is at the heart of the Christmas holiday. Scenes usually include the baby Jesus, his parents Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, and various animals, just like the story told in the New Testament of the Bible.

However, nativity scenes can be quite elaborate. Indoor displays can range from simple wooden figures to expensive glass and precious metal miniatures. Outdoor displays can range from plastic statues in front of homes to grand scenes displayed outside of churches, complete with theatrical lighting and real actors and animals.

2: Nutcrackers

Nutcrackers are both a useful tool and a fun decoration for the holiday season!
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A simple tool, or perhaps a fun toy (as long as you don’t stick your finger in the wrong spot), nutcrackers have become a beloved symbol of the Christmas season. However, this common decoration only became associated with the holiday season recently.

The first toy-soldier-shaped nutcrackers were produced by German carpenter Wilhelm Fuchtner in 1872. But it wasn’t until 1892, when Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet about a nutcracker coming to life premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, that the decorative culinary tool became a part of holiday lore. Though the ballet focuses on the magic of Christmas, the nutcracker’s prominent role made it a must-have decoration for the holiday season.

1: Pumpkins and Gourds

Pumpkins and gourds are used in many displays to celebrate the colors and harvests of autumn.
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At first glance, this entry may seem out of place – Halloween and Thanksgiving come before the traditional holiday season. However, those who appreciate natural decorations know that pumpkins and gourds are great additions to seasonal decor.

Most gourds don’t ripen until the end of the harvest season, right before winter’s first frost. Early farmers who stored the gourds for winter food had a lot of attractive decor options, making the use of gourds in fall celebrations a logical choice. In fact, one could argue that fall gourds are responsible for the popularity of the autumn color palette’s reds, oranges, golds, and browns.

Most gourds have edible fruit or seeds, and using them in recipes instead of canned pumpkin or summer squash can add a unique fall twist to favorite dishes.

Additional Information

Related Articles

• Learn How to Create Festive Crafts for the Kitchen this Christmas
• Discover Ways to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays
• What is the Significance of the Hanukkah Menorah?
• Explore the Top 5 Traditional Themes for Holiday Decorating
• Find Out About the Top 5 Traditional Stocking Stuffers

Sources

• Read “The Fine and Folk Art of Christmas” by Adelle M. Banks from The Washington Post
• Learn About the Odd Holiday Tradition of Caganers from the Chicago Tribune
• Discover “The World’s Biggest Christmas Light Display” from The Daily Mail
• Explore the Past and Present Hanukkah Traditions from The Philadelphia Inquirer
• Find Out the Origin of Christmas Stockings from DoItYourself.com
• Read “A Little Nativity Scene in Bensonhurst, and How It Grew Over the Decades” by Peter Duffy from The New York Times
• Discover the History of Hanukkah from History.com
• Learn About “A Symphony of Lights” in Hong Kong from the Hong Kong Tourism Board
• Explore the History of Nutcrackers from the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
• Read “Many Christmas Traditions Rooted in Pagan Rituals” by Heath McCoy from The Ottawa Citizen
• Learn “What’s Behind Christmas Traditions – and Just How Traditional Are They?” from The Independent
• Discover the History of the Advent Wreath from the Arlington Catholic Herald
• Explore the Origin of the Pine-Cone Decoration of the Imamzadehs of Khuzistan from the Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London
• Learn About the History of Pumpkins from the University of Illinois Extension
• Read “Fruitcake” by Mick Vann from The Austin Chronicle
• Discover “The Strange History of Traditions Around the World” from Wales on Sunday

FAQ

1. What are traditional holiday decor items?

Traditional holiday decor items are those that have been used for generations to decorate homes during the holiday season. These items are often associated with specific holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and are typically used to create a festive atmosphere in the home.

2. What is the origin of the Christmas tree?

The tradition of the Christmas tree can be traced back to Germany in the 16th century. It is said that Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, was the first to bring a tree into his home and decorate it with candles to represent the stars in the sky. The tradition spread throughout Germany and eventually made its way to other parts of the world.

3. Why do people hang stockings on the fireplace?

The tradition of hanging stockings on the fireplace dates back to the story of St. Nicholas, who is said to have thrown gold coins through the window of a poor family’s home. The coins landed in the stockings that were hung by the fireplace to dry, and from then on, children began hanging their stockings in the hope that they would receive gifts from St. Nicholas.

4. What is the significance of mistletoe?

Mistletoe has been used as a decoration during the holiday season for centuries. It is said to have originated with the Druids, who believed that it had magical powers and could ward off evil spirits. In modern times, mistletoe is often associated with kissing, and it is said that if two people kiss under the mistletoe, they will have good luck in the coming year.

5. Where did the tradition of the Yule log come from?

The Yule log is a tradition that dates back to pre-Christian times. It was originally a pagan tradition, and the log was burned to celebrate the winter solstice. The tradition was later adopted by Christians, who burned the log on Christmas Eve as a symbol of the light of Christ.

6. What is the significance of the menorah?

The menorah is a symbol of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It has eight branches, one for each night of the holiday, and a ninth branch for the shamash, or helper candle. The menorah is lit each night of Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the oil, when a small amount of oil lasted for eight days in the Temple.

7. Why is red and green a popular color scheme for Christmas?

The use of red and green as a color scheme for Christmas can be traced back to the 14th century, when they were used in the decorations for the feast of Adam and Eve. The colors were later adopted by Christians as a way to represent the blood of Jesus and the evergreen tree.

8. What is the origin of the dreidel?

The dreidel is a traditional toy used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It is said to have originated in the 16th century, when Jewish children in Germany would use a top to play a game during the holiday. The top was later replaced by the dreidel, which has Hebrew letters on each side that stand for the phrase “a great miracle happened there.”

9. What is the history of the Christmas wreath?

The Christmas wreath has been used as a decoration for centuries. It is said to have originated with the Romans, who used wreaths as a symbol of victory. In Christian tradition, the wreath is often decorated with candles to represent the light of Christ.

10. Why is Kwanzaa celebrated?

Kwanzaa is a holiday that was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way to celebrate African American culture and heritage. It is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st and includes traditions such as lighting the kinara, or candle holder, and sharing stories and songs that honor African American culture.