Friday, November 26, 2010

Christmas Symbolism! - "wir haben Schwein"

Hi everyone, I'm happy to be joining Pink SaturdaySeasonal Sunday and the Christmas Blog Party. I thought it might be fun to list some of the symbolism of the season!
The Symbol of the Pig:
wir haben Schwein means "we have good luck". 
According to German tradition, partaking of a roast pork dinner on Christmas Eve will prevent evil and promote prosperity in the New Year. Pigs are considered to be symbols of good fortune, thrift and savings. Children are traditionally given piggy banks to encourage them to save.

All of these definitions are courtesy of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. I'm sure it won't surprise you that an ornament addict would be on their mailing list:@) 

The Pickle:
The pickle brings good luck and was the last ornament placed on the tree. On Christmas morning the first child to find the gherkin was rewarded with an extra gift left by St. Nicholas. This encouraged them to appreciate all of the ornaments on the tree, rather than hurrying to see what St. Nick left for them.

The Nutcracker:
They were traditionally dressed as soldiers and kings. Villagers took satisfaction in having these authoritative figures perform the menial task of cracking nuts. Some may still crack nuts, but the real joy is their colorful presence decorating the home.

The Christmas Tree:
Because it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered through faith in Christ. The treetop points heavenward. A star signifies the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem. Lights represent Christ, the "Light of the World". Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His only begotten Son, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

That's just a few of the most traditional symbols, there are many more! 
If there's an interest please let me know and I'll do another post or two. 
Have a happy day:@)


Please join my "The Reason For The Season" party and showcase your nativity-details HERE!

65 comments:

  1. I love these...and may I borrow THE CHRISTMAS TREE one?
    Hope your holiday was wonderful.
    xo bj

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  2. HPS!!! I didn't know about the pig tradition!! I love the piggy bank idea. I just found out about the pickle a couple of years ago....I know..I know..WHERE have I been? :)

    I hope you had a great TGiving and wish you a great PSat!!

    Dana

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  3. This was so fun! I loved learning about these traditions! Please do more!! Love the piggy bank also. I have a pink princess pig and she would love a Christmas hat this year I'm sure!!

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  4. I didn't know that haben swein was the same as being lucky :) Good to learn something new :)

    All the best!

    http://fotochip.blogspot.com/2010/11/pink-saturday-hat.html

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  5. Love the history of Christmas and why we still do things the way we do!

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  6. good I am having roast pork for my holiday dinner party...my madien name is German and I married one that is German!

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  7. yes! please post more! Happy Pink Saturday. Hey, I'm having a giveaway!

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  8. This is such a great post! It's always neat to learn new facts about Christmas. I'm a Nutcracker Collector, and this was a new story to me. Thanks for sharing, and of course I'd love to hear more. Happy Pink Saturday!

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  9. I had heard of the symbolism of the pickle, but not the pig. Very good! Happy Pink Saturday.

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  10. Cute! and good luck pigs? We'll just have to try that! xoxo Nancy

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  11. I have wanted to get a pickle to put on the tree! I think that is a great tradition. We are heavy on the German heritage and I sent my aunt one years ago but never got myself one. We are big fans of nutcrackers though. Love all the traditions. Happy PS.

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  12. Oh Sweetie...
    Happy Pink Saturday and what a beautiful share. I love all of them. But I have got to find a pickle ornament for my tree. I will be searching now for a pickle.

    I think each of my grands will be receiving a little piggy bank in addition to their other gifts this year. I wonder if they will save anything? I guess next year will tell.

    I have ordered two tin nutcrackers to guard each side of the entryway this year. I can't wait for them to arrive.

    Thank you for sharing sweet friend. The tree of course is my favorite. So, so true,

    Have a beautiful weekend. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

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  13. Hi Sweetie...
    I just had to pop back over. I went on line and found a dozen pickle ornaments for $13.00 on Amazon. I am going to add one into each of the grandkids stocking, and send one to my Momma and Daddy for their tree, keep one for mine, and I have a couple of friends that I think need one as well. Thank you for sharing with me this beautiful tradition.

    Many hugs sweetie, Sherry

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  14. Thanks for the holiday ideas. I must put on my thinking cap and incorporate some of these into our holiday decorating.

    Happy Pink Saturday.

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  15. I like the christmas tree one!
    Happy Pink Saturday.
    Hugs, Ann

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  16. This is a WONDERFUL post Lynn!!! Our Christmas traditions sometimes take over the true meaning of everything and it's SO NICE of you to share these beautiful things with us... I MUST share these, I hope you don't mind... Hugs to you, Donna

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  17. We have the best time with the pickle ornament. Happy Pink Saturday!!

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  18. Thank tou for this post!!! Many of us here in Italy have also the "presepe", it's nativity ...I prepare two very niceevry year..probably before Xmas I'm going to show you them on my blog!!!!...
    I love the pickle tradition.... !!!Happy pink Saturday....ciao Flavia

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  19. Hello Lynn,
    so funny to discover on your blog the German words "wir haben Schwein". I guess, many Germany don't even know where it came from. But a pig was always a symbol of wealth and good life. It gains weight day for day with some leftovers and in the end it was a lot of meat to eat and to share with others. I guess, thats why a the pig is here often used as piggy bank. In former times it was used in small comunities to invite all neighbors when a pig was butchered. Then all workend together to make sausage and to salt and smoke the meat and eat and drink. It was not easy to store a lot meat that times. And when the neighbor butchered his pig, you where invited as well. If you "had a pig = wir hatten Schwein" it literally meant you had the luck to have lots of good food and that was similar to a nice life.
    LyNN, you always have a SUCH lot of pigs! You are the most lucky person, I know. LOL
    I love to learn all those cute traditions. I had seen often strange Christmas ornaments and always wondered what a gherkin had to do with Christmas. Now I know. It's a wonderful challenge to find the gherkin. Love that.
    And thank you for this link to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. Was so nice to browse there.
    Have a great time and always "have a pig".
    Greetings, Johanna

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  20. Oh I love these.. I love the countdown.. So wonderful!!

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  21. Hi Lynn!
    You got me with the pickle one! LOL! Never knew that.
    Poor little piggies, they know they are doomed from the start.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  22. Lynn, what a great post! I have always had a pickle!

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  23. I love learning about different holiday traditions. Thank you for sharing these.

    Happy Pink Saturday,

    Karen

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  24. Happy Pink Saturday, Thanks for sharing the meanings of the ornaments. I've never heard of the one for the pig. We have tree ornaments and we have the pickle. Now I'm going to get a pig for the tree.

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  25. All wonderful traditions! Love the pickle idea and I love nutcrackers but of course the Christmas tree is my favourite! Wonderful post! Happy Pink Saturday and thanks for sharing. I would love to read more! Enjoy your weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  26. Hi Lynn,
    I'm back to let you know I have signed up to follow your blog. I love it and I cannot believe I haven't done this already!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  27. I love this! I am glad you posted these, I may have to use them too. Thank you!

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  28. Hey Lynn,
    that's neat to know! I love trivia like that.
    Cute pink pig!
    Happy Weekend,
    Cindy

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  29. Great post today! Being of German Heritage, we always have Pork on New Years day, for good luck! Also did you know that it is physically impossible for a pig to look backwards and can only look ahead. So having pork is to remind us to always look to the future and not dwell on the past. My mom always hid a pickle ornament in the tree, even before it became popular in the US.

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  30. Happy pink saturday!

    lovely pink xmas post!

    xoxo

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  31. I love the pig & pickle!!
    Have a happy weekend!!! xo Tami

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  32. Hi Lynn, we always have a pickle on our tree, and I have some caroler children holding pickles too! That is the strangest tradition of many at Christmas time. I loved your explanation of the symbolism of the tree. Can't wait to see everyone's ornaments this month!!!! We can have a contest for the most addicted ornament collector! Linda

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  33. Bronners is one of my favorite places on earth. La

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  34. Nice reminder. I put all of this in a book I made a few years ago and gave to all the children for christmas. I should get out my copy for the new kids(of all ages) in the family.

    Thanks for the visit to my PS. It led me to your delightful blog. Nice to have you in blogland. You will find it very addicting.

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  35. What lovely tidbits & reminders ...
    Hope you had a lovely holiday celebration, my friend.
    Happy PS ...
    Have a beautiful weekend.
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  36. We have friends who would always served a pork roast on New Year's Day for good luck ;) Tell Earl to run! LOL.

    Wonderful post!

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  37. Loved finding out more about such a blessed and lovely holiday. I think I'll serve Pork Roast for Christmas this year. Happy Pink Saturday.

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  38. Fun and interesting post, I knew about the Christmas tree, and had heard about the pickle, but not the pig. LOL.
    Happy PS
    Gail

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  40. Great post! Thanks for sharing those traditions. It is funny because you have got me looking for pig items where ever I go and thinking of you!! Happy Pink Saturday!!

    **Sorry I can't spell this morning, hence the deleted comment.

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  41. Lots of fun traditions here! We have done the pickle one since I was a little kid. I think of you next weekend when I stop by Bronners! I need to find Russian ornaments.

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  42. Great history facts, especially for all of us that love Christmas!

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  43. What a great and informative post. I am glad you shared those traditions. I was not aware of them.

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  44. Lynn, I enjoyed those. Yes, please give us more info on the symbolism. Very fun facts. I am always amazed by fun facts about holidays. I have been most interested lately in the German traditions of Christmas.
    Thanks
    Sherry

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  45. Some great traditions. I love the pickle! Happy PS!
    Jes

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  46. Cute post! Funny traditions! Happy PS!
    Hugs,
    Olivia

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  47. We just did early Christmas with one of our sons since we won't see him then, and he and my daughter in law gave us marzipan pigs. I wasn't familiar with that tradition until she explained it to us. I'll have to send them a pickle (pigkle?) for their tree. :)

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  48. Such a cute, fun, and educational post!

    Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

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  49. Love these! Still don't think I will be hanging a pickel on my tree, but what a fun thing to know about!! Love too your count down banner that is a wonderful one.

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  50. Thanks for visiting my blog !! happy sunday........love Ria.....

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  51. Christmastime is so much fun! I'd love to see more of your meaningful traditions.

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  52. I'm going to avert my eyes 'til I scroll past your countdown :) I have never heard of the pickle ornament and tradition, but I like it!--at least now that the kids are grown I would like it. When they were younger, they would have fought over the pickle--come to think of it, they still might :)

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  53. How nice to learn about these traditions! My favorite is the Christmas Tree! Thank You for sharing and have a very blessed day! Also, Thank You for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!

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  54. This was great! I learned much I didn't know before I stopped by. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  55. Thank you for sharing.. what fun. Being German, I love seeing things that are part of my traditions.. Did you know they don't really sell pickle ornaments in Germany?

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  56. What a fun post! I didn't know about pigs and luck...although I always have some ham with my collards and black-eyed peas at New Years! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!...hugs...Debbie

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  57. Loved your post, I love learning the meaning behind things! Thanks for sharing. Stephanie

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  58. My son hangs a pickle ornament on this tree. My grandson takes great joy in finding it every year.

    Happy Pink Saturday, Lynn.

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  59. We always had fresh ham on New Years Day, and we are Irish. My dh has some German in him, and they always ate creamed herring. TH that wasn't done at our house!
    I think I will buy a pickle for the gkids...mmm, maybe not, they will knock everything over looking for it!

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  60. These are great! We actually put a pickle ornament on our tree every year so that one I knew.

    Don't you just love the whole Christmas season? It's just filled with one wonderful thing after another.

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  61. I love the Bronner's catalog! I am a little bit of an ornament addict myself...ok...I'm a BIG ornament addict...lol I buy an ornament on every vacation I take as a reminder and I love looking at them all on my tree.

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  62. Hi Lynn, a late visit but this Thanksgiving weekend was full to the brim with food and company. We loved every busy minute.
    I love your symbols of Christmas and the holiday season. Some I didn't know.
    Hugs, Jeanne

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  63. So happy to see you in the Christmas spirit! Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  64. Hi Lynn, I'm your newest follower. Really like your post today! I'd found out about the pickle about 10 years ago from a girl at work! Where have I been??? Didn't know about the pork on Christmas Eve, either. That's something my German ancestors forgot to pass on! LOL!
    XoXoXo
    Joy

    http://christmasspiritallyearlong.blogspot.com/

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Thank you for stopping by-enjoy your day!