Christmas traditions: Yule never guess where they came from

Last Christmas, we gave you some history. But the very next day, you forgot it away. This year, to save us from tears. We'll send it out extra special.

Here is a look at some 'hard-hitting' Christmas facts from CBC's archives

CBC News Posted: Dec 25, 2015 10:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 25, 2015

Ever wonder how our Christmas traditions came about. We took a look at some last year, and here is a roundup if you missed it.

Last Christmas, wegave you some history.But the very next day, you forgot it away.

This year, to save usfrom tears. We'll send it out extraspecial.

Why do we give gifts at Christmas?

Along with sipping eggnog and lighting up the tree, giving gifts to friends and family is often a cherished part of the Christmas season but why do we do it?

The common explanation is that gifts are given at Christmas to remind those celebrating the holiday of the gifts brought to the baby Jesus to celebrate his birth.

But it wasn't until the late 1800s that people began to see Christmas Day as a time to give gifts to children and each other.

Read more about why we give gifts here

Giving gifts on Christmas Day has only been common practice in Canada for about a century. (Corinna vanGerwen/Canadian Press)

Why do we celebrate on Dec. 25th?

The 25th of December is a day eagerly awaited by many who celebrate Christmas but how did it the holiday end up on that date?

Early Christians had no Christmas as we would recognize it now and, in fact, the Bible suggestsJesus was actually bornwhen shepherds were outtending to their flocks in the field which was likely not winter.

Discrepancies with the datepersisted for years until the Church began a concentrated effort to bring pagans into the faith and it was inAD 350 that Pope Julius I decreed Dec. 25 as the day Jesus's birth would be celebrated.

Read more about why we celebrate in December

Dec. 25th was likely chosen as the date on which to celebrate Christmas because it corresponded with a pagan holiday honouring the sun god Mithras. (Auntie P/Creative Commons)

Why do we eat candy canes?

As soon as the holidays roll around, grocery store shelves are stacked high with candy canes but how did they become part of the Christmas season?

According to Ace Collins'Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, candy canes first came into being around 1670 in Cologne, Germany.

Legend holds that the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedralwas searching for a wayto keep the children in the choir quiet during the long Christmas service.

Read more about the sweet history of candy canes

The origins of the humble candy cane may have been in 17th century Germany, when a choirmaster began searching for a way to keep children quite during a long mass. (Christy Nelson/Creative Commons)

Why do we kiss under mistletoe?

Kissing under the mistletoe can be a cherished holiday tradition but why do we do it?

According to the Natural History Museum in the U.K.,the custom took rootwith the ancient Druids. The Druids were the educated and religiousclass of the Celtic peoples who existed in some form until about 600 A.D., and they believed mistletoe to be sacred.

They also believed the plant would make people more fertile and bring good luck, and warring clanswould lay downtheir weapons if they met underneath a sprig of mistletoe.

Read more about mistletoe, including a ban for centuries

(Anders Krusberg/The Martha Stewart Show/Associated Press)

Why do we put up trees?

Decorating a Christmas tree is one of the most festive parts of the holiday season,but why do we do it?

According to theVirtual Museum of Canada, a website run by the Canadian Museum of History, decorative symbolsincluding treeshave been used since the 11th century by Christians to symbolize motifs such as peace and renewalduring the Advent season.

Even before that, the Celtic Druidsused to decorate their templeswith evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life

However, it wasn't until the 15th century that people began bringing trees into their home during Christmas.