Our red velvet christmas stocking is 21 inches long including the 2 inch red velvet hanger loop. The stocking is deep red velvet with green sequins and gold beads spelling "HO HO HO". Select this link to view our Christmas tree skirt.
Noel: Derived from Latin natalis means “day of birth” or “birthday”. In French it is an expression of joy. Commonly used during the Christmas season as a word for carol.
The Three Kings or Magi: An Indo German word meaning great or illustrious priestly scholars that specialized in science and astronomy. They came from Persia and were considered Wise Men because they were able to interpret dreams. They followed the Star of Bethlehem in search of the King of the Jews, and were the first gentiles to believe in Christ. It was believed that they came from an observatory at the Hill of Vaus, India. The three priests were named Melchior, who brought gold, a symbol of sovereignty. Gaspar, who brought Frankincense, a symbol of divinity and Balthazar, who brought myrrh, a symbol of humanity. In addition to the sight of the Star of Bethlehem as a sign of the Savior’s arrival, legend has it, at the midnight hour of Christ’s birth, an ostrich kept by Gaspar hatched two eggs, one yielding a lion and the other a lamb. Melchior had a bird fly into his garden and announce the birht of Christ in a human voice. To Balthazar was born a son with the power of speech fully developed. The child told that Jesus’s mother would be a virgin and that He would live for 33 year, while Balthazar’s son himself would only survive 33 days. Melchior died at 169 years of age on January 1. Balthazar at 149 on January 6 and Gaspar at 109 on January 11, all in the year 54 AD. They were originally interred at St. Sophia in Constantinople. After the 1st crusades, their remains were transferred to the Cathedral of Milan in 1164 AD. Emperor Barbarassa soon conquered Milan and transferred their relics to Cologne, where they rest today.
Angels: Bodiless, immortal spirits that appear to mankind at important moments. The angels appear to man as messengers of God, bringing messages of comfort, warnings, tests of belief, and deliverance. They are also bringers of peace and goodwill. The New Testament tells how the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks to bring them good tidings of great joy, The Birth of Christ. And the multitude of angels proclaimed: glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.
Animals in Christmas pageants: Animals are constantly alluded to in Christmas pageants. Here are some of their tales:
All farm animals show their adoration on Christmas Eve by falling on their knee’s at midnight. Certain animals are given the gift of speech for one hour to announce the birth of Christ, but it is bad luck for the humans who hear those words. Select this link to view our artificial prelit christmas trees.
Icicles: Introduced from Nuremberg, Germany in 1878. Though originally introduced as silver foil strips, in the 1920’s they were made of lead that would not tarnish. In the 1960’s the were made of mylar due to the potential of lead poisoning. Legend has it that one cold winter night, the Christ Child sought shelter in the forest and all the leaves had fallen but for the pine tree. When the pine tree realized he was caring for the Christ Child, tears of happiness fell and froze into icicles.