An old Belarusian legend tells of a mother and father walking through the forest with their children, looking for just the right Christmas tree. A fairy appeared holding a beautifully decorated tree covered with ornaments representing all the colors of the rainbow. Alinka, their young daughter, excitedly called out to her mother, “Here is our jalinka.” The delighted family told their neighbors, and the news of this miracle soon spread throughout the country. To replicate the fairy’s tree, people began constructing geometric shapes from straw dyed in an assortment of colors. Today, ubory (the making of straw ornaments) is an art form, which takes a great amount of skill and patience to master.

Here is a guide to the symbolism of such ornaments:

There many of these in North America. Parents are urged to send in pictures of their kids being frightened when meeting Santa. There is never a shortage of entries. 

This time in Switzerland. Note the demonic black creature with the switches and bell next to Saint Nicholas on the lower right of the photo — – that’s Schmutzli, the Swiss equivalent of Krampus or Cert.

Among the contests in this World Championships of Santa Claus is chimney climbing.

In a quest to find Great Britain’s ultimate Santa, organizers at Guinness World Records sponsored the first-ever Santathon in December 2001. The event included a field of eight top contenders donned in full beards, red suits, and black boots. Competitive events included sack hauling, pie eating, chimney climbing, stocking filling, and ho-ho-hoing. First prize was awarded to David Broughton-Davis, 43, from Croydon, a professional department store Santa.

Numerous contests of a similar nature take place around the world and we shall be covering those in the coming days. For example, in the category of most participants dressed as Santa in a road race the Guinness Book of World Record says that the largest Santa Claus run consists of 4,983 participants, and was achieved by the J&A Racing (USA) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, on 17 December 2016. The record was achieved at the annual Great Outdoor Provision Co. Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler.

Stir-Up Sunday is the last Sunday before Advent, deriving its name from the first two words of the Church of England reading for that day: “Stir up we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people that they plenteously bring forth the fruit of good works.” This has been parodied by generations of choirboys as “Stir up we beseech thee the pudding in the pot. And when we get home, we’ll eat it up all hot.”

An English tradition requires that the Christmas pudding be stirred up, with each family member taking a turn and making a wish — some insist that the stirring must be performed clockwise and with eyes closed.  This may derive from the custom of stirring from East to West because the Magi arrived in Bethlehem from the East. The day also announces to school children the approach of the Christmas holidays.

441 AD

Cyrus Panopolites was a renowned poet and a high-ranking official in the Eastern Roman Empire, achieving the lofty post of Praetorian Prefect. He was successful in his diplomatic negotiations and was responsible for rebuilding the walls of Constantinople. For some reason, he fell afoul of the emperor Theodosius II who accused him of being  pagan and stripped him of his position. Rumour had it that the emperor was jealous of Cyrus’s popularity with the people of Constantinople.

Having no future in the civil service, Cyrus entered the Church and became a priest. To his surprise, the emperor named him a bishop and sent him to preside over the see of Cotaeum in Phrygia, far from the capital. The reason for this appointment was apparent: the unruly citizens of Cotaeum had murdered their last four bishops and the emperor was clearly hoping that that they would do the same to Cyrus.

On Christmas day Cyrus was officiating at his church when the mob, anxious to see what sort of man their new bishop was and whether he was really a pagan, loudly demanded that he preach to them. Cyrus mounted to the pulpit and gave the following sermon.

Brethren, let the birth of God our Saviour Jesus Christ be honoured with silence, because the Word of God was conceived in the holy Virgin through hearing alone. To him be glory for ever. Amen.

The oration was greeted with great enthusiasm instead of a lynching and Cyrus went to become a beloved bishop.

Christmas is such an important event that groups seeking attention for their causes use the season to advertise their messages. We can see this with PETA’s advertisements about a “turkey holocaust”, atheists denying the divinity of Jesus, or anti-war groups calling for peace.

The struggle in the early twentieth century for votes for women produced Christmas cards trumpeting the suffragist line.

The controversy also prompted opposition Christmas cards.

A little askew after its 7,350 km journey from Poland.

A crocheted depiction

An angular sort of American Southwest scene

The Nativity as depicted by an all-terrier cast