Peek of the Week

Christmas Commentary

December 22, 2022

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

The poet Henry David Thoreau said, “The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.”

And the differences in the way we spend Christmas in the United States is as diverse as the people that make up our tapestry. Some Christmas traditions date back to the 16th century while others are a bit more modern. But either way, these traditions have made their way into many of our homes and have become Christmas staples. Here is a glimpse into some of the traditions we partake in:2

·         The Christmas tree. Mark Carr, a New York woodsman, is widely credited for opening the first Christmas tree lot in the mid-1800s. But decorated trees date all the way back to Germany in the Middle Ages. This day in age, a majority of U.S. households have a Christmas tree during this season. 

·         The Pickle Ornament Hunt. Some households hang a green pickle ornament on the tree and the first child to find it gets to be the first to open their gifts. It’s been said that this tradition likely stemmed from a Woolworth’s marketing campaign in the 1800s when they received an overabundance of ornaments shaped like pickles and had to entice customers to buy them.

·         Gingerbread Houses. It’s said that the Brothers Grimm tale “Hansel and Gretel” birthed the tradition of edible decorations that we know as gingerbread houses.

·         Ugly Christmas Sweaters. The tradition of putting on the ugliest sweaters was started as a party trend in Vancouver, Canada in the early 2000s. Now you can find an ugly sweater anywhere during the holiday season.

The best present we could ask for is working with you. Thank you for putting your trust in us. We hope you enjoy your Christmas and get everything you wish for!

Merry Christmas to all,

Leif M Hagen, CLU, ChFC
LPL Financial Advisor
Achievement Financial
Dream. Plan. Achieve.

Sources:

1 https://parade.com/964716/marynliles/christmas-quotes/

2 https://www.history.com/news/christmas-traditions-history

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