2021 Home For the Holidays

Page 30 2021 Home for the Holidays Lincoln Daily News November 24, 2021 With a surplus of pickle ornaments, someone at Woolworth’s or possibly another retailer put a card on the ornament explaining the traditions. Though the origin is questionable, it appears some families have decided to make the pickle ornament part of their Christmas tradition. Santa Some countries have a Santa Claus like figure with a different name. In France, he is called Pere Noel. According to a history of French Christmas legends, “Pere Noel or Papa Noel gives presents to children who behave well throughout the year.” Pere Noel “is accompanied by Pere Fouettard, his dark alter ego cohort, who informs Pere Noel as to which children have been good and which ones behaved badly during the year.” The legend says Pere Noel travels around the world on his donkey or on his sleigh pulled by reindeers and stops at houses to leave presents for good children. Instead of cookies left for Santa, “The French fill shoes and logs with treats for Pere Noel’s donkey or reindeers on Christmas Eve.” Their hope is that Pere Noel will be pleased and leave gifts. Adding romance to the holiday The English people are also credited with creating the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Sources say in the past they would hang up mistletoe plants on their doorways or their ceilings and berries would still be attached. Whoever passed under the mistletoe would have to kiss someone they loved or who was probably available. For young women, kissing under the mistletoe was a big deal. Legends say, “If a young unmarried woman refused to kiss any man under the mistletoe, Continued n