MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between “Gifts” & “Presents”

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between “Gifts” & “Presents”

Christmastime…the time of year when everyone seems to be busy buying, wrapping, and giving items to people that we’d like for them to have. What are they called again?  Gifts! Or…is it presents? Is there even really a difference between “gifts” & “presents”? Each word arose from a different language family. “Gift” was derived from…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Hang A Pickle On The Christmas Tree?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Hang A Pickle On The Christmas Tree?

Everyone has their own Christmas traditions, but not everyone’s are the same. Some folks open presents after breakfast, some people hang stockings up for their dog, some display homemade decorations…and then there are some folks who hide a Christmas pickle ornament in their tree. What is that all about? The tradition, which is believed by…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Does “Bah! Humbug!” Really Mean?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Does “Bah! Humbug!” Really Mean?

Ever heard the phrase, “Bah! Humbug!” around Christmastime & wonder what it means? The most famous examples of the phrase come from Charles Dickens’s timeless 1843 tale, A Christmas Carol, in which the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge regularly proclaims “Bah! Humbug!” when referring to Christmas. Since Scrooge particularly hates the otherwise happy holiday, it’s easy to…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Kiss Under The Mistletoe?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Kiss Under The Mistletoe?

Mistletoe is a strange plant. Certain varieties are poisonous, with their toxic white berries being able to cause a variety of digestive issues. It’s also a parasitic plant, attaching itself onto other trees to steal their water & nutrients. Mistletoe seeds are then dispersed by birds that eat its berries, allowing the plant to grow…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Do Kids In Other Countries Leave Cookies & Milk For Santa?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Do Kids In Other Countries Leave Cookies & Milk For Santa?

Most families that celebrate Christmas here in the US leave out cookies & milk for Santa & carrots for his reindeer. But is that a worldwide habit? What do other countries provide as snack food for Santa? Well actually, the big guy doesn’t spend his entire 24-hour present-delivery schedule eating only cookies & milk. Santa…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Christmas Lights End Up Tangled

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Christmas Lights End Up Tangled

Unless you’re very lucky, or very well-organized, your Christmas lights are likely all tangled up when you get them out of storage. One way or another, you’ll eventually end up on your hands & knees, fighting to untangle that seasonal snarl. And you’re not alone: a few years ago, even the British grocery chain Tesco…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is Christmas On December 25th?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is Christmas On December 25th?

Each December, we throw a big shindig in celebration of the anniversary of Jesus’s birth. But, without a birth certificate or other official record of His actual birthdate, December 25th seems like it’s an arbitrary date for our Christmas traditions. So, how was it chosen as THE date? The Bible doesn’t name a month, day,…