Christmas Traditions by GiftTree

Christmas Traditions Around the World

If you want to add a touch of elegance to your Christmas traditions, you're on the right site. Welcome to GiftTree, your premier source for personal and corporate Christmas gift ideas for all your Christmas traditions. Christmas traditions are as varied as the people who celebrate them, and our exquisite selection of gifts are sure to please even the most discriminating person on your list. Whether you're placing presents under the Christmas tree or bearing gifts in your holiday travels, GiftTree has many gift ideas to make your Christmas traditions special.

American Family Traditions Home Page
We share American Family Traditions that cherish Freedom, Family and Country.

Christmas Cards
Celebrate the holidays with beautiful Christmas cards. Search no more, we have all the styles of Christmas cards in one location.

Christmas in Dublin
Christmas in Dublin

Christmas Party
Christmas shopping? Pinatas make a great christmas gift

Christmas Customs
Are you looking for Christmas customs? We've gathered useful information partners that will give you what you need.

Christmas Decorations
Find Christmas decorations of all types in one place with GiftTree. Our selection provides variety and quality you have been looking for.

Everything Christmas - Christmas decorations, gift and party ideas, and costumes
Your Holiday resource for Christmas shopping, crafts, cards, holiday decorations, gifts, and more.

Christmas Flowers
Find a wide selection of beautiful Christmas flowers all in one spot. With our quality selection, you can be sure you are shopping in the right place to make this Christmas special.

Free Holiday Ideas. Ideas for every holiday, from Christmas to Pig Day!
Free Holiday Ideas. Ideas for every holiday, from Christmas to Pig Day!

Christmas Fruit Baskets
Send your sentiments of love this holiday season with beautiful Christmas fruit baskets. The premium selection of these great fruit baskets will truly make it a wonderful holiday.

Christmas Gift Basket
Give the gift of love along with a wonderful Christmas gift basket that your recipient will be sure to love. Christmas gift baskets are always such great gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Christmas Gift Baskets
Christmas Gift Baskets can make anyone's holiday extra special. Find the perfect Christmas gift baskets with GiftTree today. Our selection will impress you and our quality will make your Christmas wish unforgettable.

Christmas Gift Idea
Get the perfect Christmas gift idea with ease by using our great partners that have a wide variety of Christmas gift ideas for all ages.

Christmas Gift Ideas
At GiftTree, we have the best Chirstmas gift ideas that could really make a difference this holiday season. Our gift ideas are unique and of high quality.

Christmas Gifts
Find a variety of Christmas gifts with website partners that we've gathered for your convenience. Our selection provides you with quality and variety that you are looking for.

Letters from Santa Claus
Letters from Santa Claus with a free follow-up postcard. Voted among the best of all personalized gifts.

Hand crafted, unique nutcrackers, smokers and gingerbread houses
Find the perfect Christmas gifts for your family, friends or yourself including, Nutcrackers, Christmas Stockings, Christmas Ornaments, Gingerbread Houses, Angels and much more.

Christmas Holiday
Give the best presents this Christmas holiday with the great selection of stores we've gathered. You can also find great Chirstmas holiday websites to help you celebrate in many different ways.

Christmas Lights
Let the beauty of the holiday season shine through with our offerings of Christmas lights. You'll find great selection and quality with GiftTree partners.

Merry Christmas 2006 - Christmas Celebrations - Christmas Day
Christmas 2006 is the season to re-visit the history, celebrations and origin of Christmas.

Christmas Ornaments
1 stop shopping for all your Christmas ornaments and decoration needs. We've compiled a full list of the best Christmas ornament shops around.

Christmas Present
Find great ideas for that special Christmas present this year with the shops we've gathered. Our selection will provide you with quality websites and ideas for great Christmas presents.

Christmas Wine Gift Baskets
Celebrate the beautiful holiday season with friends and family by sending them quality Christmas wine gift baskets.

whychristmas?com - your Christmas questions answered!
whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions. Information includes how Christmas traditions and customs came into being, how Christmas is celebrated in different countries around the world and most importantly why Christmas exists, to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

World Languages & Cultures - Learn Languages - Know Cultures - Visit Vistawide
Best free resources for foreign language learners and speakers: info on modern languages and cultures, grammar, language learning tips, study abroad scholarships, choosing a language, finding the right course, free language learning software, and more ...

Historically, Christmas gift giving became part of many Christmas traditions all over the world to honor the three wise men that brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Over time-beginning around the 1800s-Christmas traditions evolved into the elaborate gift-giving holiday we commemorate today. In the United States, our Christmas traditions focus on spiritual celebrations, the love of family and friends, and, of course, the enchantment of Santa Claus. The spirit and joy of Christmas provides celebratory warmth to the winter chill of blustery December days. For other countries, Christmas traditions begin with Advent around November 26 and last until January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. Regardless of how Christmas traditions are celebrated, most countries equate an affectionate sentimentality to these holiday festivities.

Worldwide, Christmas traditions are celebrated as both a religious and secular holiday. Family celebrations, wrapping gifts, and baking homemade goodies form long-lasting Christmas memories. Christmas traditions are also rich with symbols. Lighted candles are set on windowsills to symbolize Joseph and Mary's search for shelter; boughs are placed on doors to ward off evil and illness; and all over the world, Christmas traditions are not complete without flowers. Poinsettias, white roses, and hyacinths are fundamental to holiday traditions in the United States, England, and Sweden, respectively.

Many Christmas traditions, including the Christmas trees and glass ornaments, originated in Germany. In fact, German settlers are credited with introducing Christmas trees to the United States. Originally, Americans thought these trees were pagan symbols and refused to incorporate them into their religious Christmas traditions. However, in 1846, when the popular Queen Victoria and her German Prince Albert were featured in the London News with their family gathered around a Christmas tree, the holiday tree gained instant popularity in both British and American societies. Although German Christmas traditions featured smaller trees-around four feet high-Americans incorporated much taller trees into their Christmas traditions, preferring trees that reached ceiling heights. Today, decorating the Christmas tree is central to American Christmas traditions.

From religious celebrations to parties with loved ones, Christmas traditions add a touch of magic to the holiday season. To the delight of children all over the world, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, and St. Nick, to name a few, add to the excitement of their Christmas traditions. While many children in the United States anticipate the arrival of Santa, Iceland commemorates their Christmas traditions with 13 Santas, each bearing a gift for good boys and girls.

In Italy, children receive their gifts January 6, not December 25. They believe that an ugly but kind witch on a broomstick delivers their gifts. Prior to January 6, children may go door-to-door reciting poems and singing to their neighbors. In return, neighbors give the children money to purchase gifts. Swedish Christmas traditions incorporate some mischievous fun into their holiday festivities. Christmas gifts in Sweden are called "Christmas knocks" because years ago, one would quietly approach a home, knock loudly on the door, and anonymously toss a gift inside the home. Christmas traditions last one month in Sweden, beginning December 13 with a celebratory feast and lasting until January 13.

Christmas traditions have cross-cultural appeal, and GiftTree celebrates the abundance of giving in the holiday season by offering gifts and gift baskets that illustrate good taste and exquisite elegance to your personal and corporate Christmas traditions. Because Christmas traditions are rich in history, spiritual abundance, and family traditions, you'll want to find just the right gifts to celebrate the occasion in style. Why put up with busy traffic and long lines when you can find memorable gifts from the convenience of your home at GiftTree? You won't find our exclusive inventory of specialty gift baskets anywhere else, and we guarantee that the gift you give from GiftTree will leave lasting impressions with family, friends, loved ones, and business associates.