Advent & Other December Traditions

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and was named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Minister to Mexico, who introduced the plant to the United States in the 1820s.

The whimsical custom of hiding a pickle on a Christmas tree involves concealing a pickle-shaped ornament on the tree, and the first child to find it is either rewarded with an extra gift or is promised good luck for the coming year.

Berrien Springs, Michigan, which billed itself as the Christmas pickle capital of the world, held a pickle parade from 1992 until 2005.

Advent calendars initially used by German Lutherans didn't have chocolates as we see today, rather they contained religious images. Originally designed to mark the days of Advent leading up to Christmas, one traditional method before the creation of the paper calendar involved simply marking chalk lines on a door or wall, wiping one off each day in December.

During the season of Advent, four candles are traditionally lit in preparation for Christmas, each carrying a theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The candles symbolize these key elements of the spiritual waiting period leading up to Christmas Day. 

Light is not one of the four main advent candles.

Advent, an important season in the Christian liturgical calendar, always starts on the Fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent varies in length, lasting between 22 to 28 days, as it relies on the day when December 25th (Christmas Day) falls. In 2025, Advent begins on November 30, and in 2026 it will start on November 29.