Stocking decorated with evergreen and Christmas holiday trees and festive branches.
The tradition of hanging stockings for Christmas holiday probably originated with stories and worship of "Odin," the mythological Germanic/Scandinavian deity. Children would fill their boots with carrots, straw, and sugary treats and place them near the fire place hearth to feed for Odin's flying horse called "Sleipnir." Odin would reward the children for their kindness and generosity by replacing the horse's food with gifts and candy. Over the centuries the practice became associated with Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus.
Many non-traditional and secular families create their own unique styles of celebration to include hand-crafted Christmas stockings to pass along to future generation as treasured hand-me downs and heirloom keepsakes.
Materials for making Christmas stockings could include
Let your imagination fly.
Hang paper stocking on the refrigerator or display on the windows for all to see. Go big and make or buy a cardboard hearth and put your paper stockings on display.
What colors to choose for the best Christmas cheer. There are several colors traditionally associated with Christmas. Each color comes with a special meaning or significance based upon cultural tradition for the holy day. What do these colors represent?
In the western/northern European hemisphere Christmastime is the darkest, coldest days of winter. The only things living out there in the ice and snow are the evergreens:
Which include Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe
Red represents the apple in the Adam & Eve story. Holly berries represent the blood of Jesus. Is the color of Catholic Bishops robes. Mix in St. Nicholas and voila' it becomes Santa's uniform color!
Gold represents the color of Sun and light, a gold five point star, a gift of gold a wise man.
The color of shimmering white snowflakes, often associated with purity and peace, Christian Communion or Mass wafer, cloth covred altars.
Ancient blue and purple dyes were only worn by royalty. Blue is associated with importance, Mary, the mother of Jesus, the color of the sky and heaven.
Primarily the color purple and sometimes blue is used in most churches for the Advent altar cloth.
Paper Trivia: Did you know that you can only fold a sheet of printer paper in half seven times? Give it a try. It doesn't matter how thick or thin the paper is, once you get to the seventh fold, the paper will not bend or budge.
Sun catchers. To create a translucent, stained glass ornaments effect, apply a bit of lemon oil to the back sides of paper ornaments to create a.
Hang the ornaments on trees, in windows, anywhere bright colorful decorations are desired.
Construct a large paper-tree for the wall with shades of green construction paper. Draw a large tree on a sheet of easel pad paper to tack onto a wall or other flat surface, then decorate with paper ornaments.