Each year I create special items for the French Country Christmas Event in my garden shed. Mixed media French prints were part of this year's speciality items. 

The watercolor version of a photograph of Sainte Chapelle and the Palais de Justice in Paris, France is one of four mixed media French prints created from original photographs I took while traveling in France. 

Winter White Poinsettias

One of the beauties of poinsettias is how long they last. Last year in the third week of January, almost one month into winter, pots of huge white poinsettias were still beautiful in my living room. 

Bought the week of Thanksgiving at a local home improvement store, these large white poinsettias were in my heated living room for almost two months when these photos were taken.

Christmas Ivy Wreath

Fresh greenery is my favorite style for Christmas decor. And ivy topiaries in the shape of a wreath are at the top of my go-to Christmas fresh greenery. 

Every season during the year has specific flowers and plants that are synonymous with that time of year. Wreaths are one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas decorations and often are the first sign of the Christmas holidays. Cities and businesses add wreaths to front doors, street lamps, and windows. 

Homeowners also hang wreaths on front doors and windows. And on gates, fences, car grills, fireplaces,...  EVERYWHERE. Wreaths are made of evergreens, pinecones, artificial berries, FEATHERS, but all proclaim Christmas. 

For me, a live ivy topiary in the shape of a wreath is Christmas. Some years I add a sparkly ornament dangling inside the wreath to add more Christmas. 

Z is for Ziva Paperwhites

Just as certain recipes evoke memories of Christmas, specific flowers immediately bring Christmas to mind, also. Z is for Ziva Paperwhites is the final post in the series of Christmas traditions from A to Z since it's not Christmas at my house without paperwhites in bloom.   

is for Ziva Paperwhites.

Each year as I make plans for celebrating Christmas, I order Ziva Paperwhite bulbs to force into bloom in time for decorating for Christmas. The bulbs must be planted six weeks before the plant blooms. 

Therefore, it is too late to plant paperwhite blooms for this Christmas, but not too late to enjoy seeing paperwhites used in Christmas decorations. 

Y is for Yule Log Cake

Christmas traditions add joy, laughter, sparkle, and continuity to the season. In the list of 26 traditions from A to Z, Y is for Yule Log Cake. No holiday season is complete without delicious signature recipes that represent the holiday.  

is for Yule Log Cake.  

The origin of yule log cake stems from burning yule logs that once were part of celebrations of Winter Solstice by pagans. Like many Christmas traditions, burning a yule log first appeared in 17th century German writings. 

From the tradition of burning yule logs, the French created a yule log cake in the shape of a log during the 19th century. Now Bûche de Noël or yule log cake is a Christmas tradition in France. France is renowned for delicious recipes that gain popularity across the world, and Bûche de Noël is now a widespread Christmas tradition not just in France.  

X is for XMAS

X is for XMAS in the list of Christmas traditions from A to Z.  An abbreviation for Christmas is a definition of XMAS. However, there is more to the story of the tradition of using XMAS for Christmas. 

is for Xmas. 

X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, and "mas" is taken from a Latin-derived Old English word for mass. 

In English, "X" was first used by a scribe to abbreviate Christ in 1100. The first known use of XMAS for Christmas was in 1721.

W is for Wisemen

W is for Wisemen is the 22nd post in a series of 26 posts listing Christmas traditions from A to Z. Traditions we observe during the holidays add joy, love, comfort, laughter, and meaning to our holiday celebrations. 

is for Wisemen.

The Christmas tradition of the three wisemen is an important part of the story of the birth of Christ in the Bible. After the birth of Jesus, a star in the east led the wisemen to where the baby Jesus was in Bethlehem. 

Our tradition of giving gifts to loved ones at Christmas follows the example of the wisemen presenting gold, myrrh, and frankincense to the Christ child. 

V is for Vixen

Some traditions add deep felt meaning to Christmas. Other traditions add joy and merriment. In the list of 26 Christmas traditions, one tradition per letter of the alphabet, V is for Vixen. Guaranteed to bring smiles just by saying the name Vixen. 

is for Vixen. 

Reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh was first mentioned and illustrated in a children's poem, "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight," in New York in 1821. Only one reindeer pulled Santa's sleigh in an accompanying lithograph. 

Two years later, in Clement C. Moore's poem, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," eight tiny reindeer with names pulled Santa's sleigh to deliver toys. 

U is for Unselfish Acts

Individuals, civic organizations, corporations, and churches traditionally spotlight opportunities to help others during the holidays. Yes, groups seek to help others all during the year, but organized and random unselfish acts are Christmas traditions. In the list of 26 Christmas traditions from A to Z, U is for Unselfish Acts. 

is for Unselfish Acts.

Unselfish acts of kindness have always existed during the Christmas season by both individuals and groups, making this the oldest Christmas tradition for many.  

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time." 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

T is for Tree

Christmas trees to celebrate the season are the most common Christmas tradition in ways to decorate for the holidays. In the list of 26 Christmas traditions from A to Z, T is for Tree. Trees are so popular that many homes now have multiple Christmas trees.

is for Tree.

Decorated Christmas trees became popular in England during Queen Victoria's reign when her German husband, Albert, introduced Christmas trees in the royal family's Christmas celebrations. 

Shortly thereafter the new English tradition was copied by wealthy families in the United States. Each year the tradition spread to more American families. 

S is for Stocking

One of the reasons Christmas is a wonderful time of the year is the scope and depth of Christmas traditions. Many traditions touch our inner souls while other traditions speak to the child in us. The list of traditions from A to Z includes the full range of traditions. S is for Stocking is one of the our treasured traditions that reminds us of childhood, of the wonder of Christmas, and of the mirth of the season. 

is for Stocking.

Leaving gifts in Christmas stockings reportedly began with Saint Nicholas. According to legend, three poor girls left their washed stockings on the fireplace mantel to dry overnight. Saint Nicholas knew the girls were poor and threw three bags of gold coins down their chimney. The coins landed in the girls' stockings.  

R is for Ribbons

Christmas traditions add joy, love, sparkle, beauty, comfort, nostalgia, meaning, and laughter to the holiday season. Traditions from A to Z offer glimpses into how different traditions add to the season. R is for Ribbons is a light-hearted tradition that adds beauty, sparkle, and joy! 

is for Ribbons.

Ribbons on Christmas presents began in the 1930s by stationery stores to dress up gift-wrapped packages. Today ribbons play a bigger role in Christmas decorations than tied to gift  packages. 

Q is for Quiet Reflection

Christmas is a time for many to contemplate the meaning of the season and of how we should live our lives. In this series of 26 Christmas traditions, Q is for Quiet Reflection. For many, Christmas is about deeper meanings instead of presents under a tree. 

is for Quiet Reflection.

Christmas traditions often include time to read, to ponder, and to reflect on how to make one's life better and how to make the world better by one's actions. 

Reading favorite seasonal books, watching holiday movies, and participating in religious activities are among the traditions that provide quiet reflection of our personal lives and of our society.  

P is for Pinecone

Christmas traditions add joy, sparkle, and beauty to our homes during the festive holiday season, and a primary tradition is Christmas decorations inside and outside. A list of 26 Christmas traditions from A to Z includes P is for Pinecones, a popular natural decoration for Christmas. 

is for Pinecones. 

Natural decorations are a Christmas tradition with origins in Roman times when pagans celebrated the winter solstice. Pinecones were one of the natural decorations for celebrating winter solstice. 

When Christians began celebrating Christmas, pinecone decorations continued, and are often used in Christmas decorations today. 

O is for Ornament

Since the Victorian Age ornaments on a Christmas tree have been a Christmas tradition in celebrating the most wondrous time of the year. O is for Ornaments in the list of Christmas traditions from A to Z written to add joy, love, laughter, beauty, nostalgia, comfort, sparkle, and meaning to the Christmas season. 

is for ornaments. 

Traditionally ornaments were used to decorate Christmas trees in England beginning in the reign of Queen Victoria. Shortly thereafter, the tradition spread to the United States. 

Ornaments vary from homemade to heirlooms and have evolved from just decorating a tree to decorating the house in other ways. 

N is for Noël

N is for Noël is part of a series of 26 posts of Christmas traditions from A to Z.  Noël is French for Christmas, and one prominent use of Noël in English Christmas traditions is in the  beautiful Christmas carol, "The First Noël."  

is for Noël.

Noël not only means Christmas. Noël can also mean Christmas carol. For centuries Christmas carols were sung in Latin or Old French. English speakers began using Nowell, an older spelling of Noël, to refer to carols in the 18th century. As late as the 20th century, the carol "The First Noël" was sometimes titled as "The First Nowell." 

M is for Merry Christmas

Cheerful Christmas greetings are exchanged with friends, family, and strangers throughout the Christmas season making M is for Merry Christmas the thirteenth Christmas tradition in my list of traditions from A to Z.  

is for Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas has been a traditional Christmas greeting for centuries. The greeting dates back to 1534 when one of Henry VIII's ministers sent the greeting to English King Henry in a letter. 

Scrooge"s nephew in the popular A Christmas Carol story greeted his uncle with, "A Merry Christmas, Uncle," which popularized the phrase in 1843 in the United States. The same year, Merry Christmas appeared in greeting cards. 

The phrase has fallen out of popularity in recent years in the United States, but I think it is still a wonderful way to greet people during the Christmas season.

L is for Lights

Light displays seem to be a bigger and brighter Christmas tradition each year with neighborhoods, cities, parks, and public gardens creating larger and longer periods for creative and sparkling displays. How can any modern day list of Christmas traditions for A to Z not include L is for Lights? 

is for Lights. 

Yet, I still enjoy the reserved, not so over-the-top, lights reminiscent of the traditional lights of my childhood. A time when the only Christmas lights were on our one-and-only Christmas tree in the living room. 

The history of Christmas lights begins with candles in the 17th century. From there lit candles on Christmas trees from German traditions became an English tradition in the Victorian Age. 

K is for Kris Kringle

Christmas traditions vary across the world, but one figure appears in many countries under different names. In a listing of traditions from A to Z, K is for Kris Kringle, one of many names for a person who brings gifts to children at Christmas.  

is for Kris Kringle.

Kris Kringle is the American name for Father Christmas and comes from the German word Chriskindl. Christkindl means Christ child. In Germany children believe the baby Jesus brings presents to children for Christmas. 

Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Father Frost, and Père Noël are just a few of the names used around the world for a person who brings gifts on Christmas Eve. Kris Kringle first appeared in English in the 1830s through the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers who were German Americans. 

J is for Joyeux

No other holiday season is more joyous for an extended period than Christmas.  Perhaps our greatest Christmas tradition is spreading joy and goodwill. From the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Day we greet everyone we meet, friends and strangers, with "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", and "Joyeux Noël".  

is for Joyeux. 

 

Joyeux is French and translates to merry, happy, cheerful, and joyful in English. And, Christmas is a season of being merry, happy, cheerful, and joyful! 

French Country style is my favorite decorating style which means I look for ways to incorporate French Country throughout my home and garden during every season of the year. Joyeux Noël adds joyful French Country to my Christmas decor and has become part of my Christmas traditions.