When it comes to Christmas the deer is the most popular animal to decorate the items used for celebration. Even so, the background of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ; additionally there are fairy tales, legends and myths from the ancient pre-modern times. The deer is the symbol of the dying and reawakening God in many religions. In the “holy nights” the great conversion, the resurgence of the light and the birth of new life takes place.
Reindeer are a deer species found in Arctic regions and are well-adapted to living in cold and rugged conditions; therefore, they’re a perfect animal symbol to use during the winter season, and the one most associated with Christmas.In Christmas lore, reindeer pull a sleigh along the night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
Folk
Christmas and home-made gifts belong together like easter and eggs. It could be socks knitted, cookies baked and Christmas decorations made. Homemade gifts are gifts that open the way to the heart. They convey the meaning of Christmas, which, after all, is not about consumption. Traditional hand-crafting techniques such as knitting, embroidery and crocheting, as well as carving and painting of wood, are used (Erzgebirge, Dala-Horse). Typical Norwegian patterns like the eight-leaf rose or Selbut star are essential. Although one of the oldest textile patterns in the world, the development of the motif for knitted gloves goes back to Marit Emstad from Selbut, Norway. Other motifs include snowflakes, deers, reindeer, fir trees and branches. The designs look handmade, in cross-stitch or knit look. Natural colours and red accents emphasize their folkloric character. The self-made gifts are packed with gift ribbons and tags with the imprint “Made with Love”.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants have become must-haves for decorating our homes around the winter solstice to remind us of better times to come. While the Christmas tree is the first plant that comes to mind, there are others, too. At parties during the holidays, kissing under the mistletoe is traditional. In Norse mythology, mistletoe was a sign of love and friendship, and that’s likely to be the origin of the custom of kissing under mistletoe. Decorating rooms with boughs of holly was an enduring part of winter-solstice lore long before there was a Christmas, and was used to ward off evil spirits and celebrate new growth. The Druids considered holly to be a sacred plant and attributed magical powers to its red berries and prickly thorns. Holly was a symbol of eternal life and fertility and it was believed that hanging the plant in homes would bring good luck and protection. The trend towards the natural is expressed in mystical shades of green and blue, combined with luxurious gold.