Christmas seems to be dawning upon us earlier and earlier each year, if we go by the malls' calendars! In regions where Thanksgiving is celebrated and due retail recognition is given, the arrival of the yearly Christmas season is somewhat overshadowed by the busy preparations for the former celebration. Even so, it would seem that the minute the Thanksgiving turkey is digested, one can already head to the malls to begin Christmas holiday gifts shopping...or go online and start ordering another bird for Christmas lunch! In addition, the annual retail tradition of Black Friday is yet another indication that Christmas follows hot on the heels of Thanksgiving. In fact, it would seem that we are almost dispensing with our holidays with as much relief or irreverence as striking items off a to-do list.

For many of us, a sense that Christmas holidays is in the air starts not with the fall of the last leaf on the tree in the backyard but rather, with the first Christmas tree raised in the malls. And with every online and offline mall trawl from then on, we are reminded that the season is indeed upon us-lights, snowmen, elves, Santas of all shapes and sizes, bells, reindeers, snow globes...the list goes on. Turn on the radio and the jingles and carols hit us. Switch on the TV and the seasonal reruns come on. Each year, the retailers continue to push the boundaries of what makes Christmas, well, Christmas. Alas, it is no longer surprising to see folkloric and mythological creatures mingled with the more traditional symbols of Christmas. These days, everything from fairies, prince charming and princesses, to cute little mushrooms along with an assortment of fruits and vegetables, cross breeds of unicorns, reindeers, bears and dogs, are manufactured months ahead and shipped off from mainland China to the rest of the world, where they take their not-so-rightful place beside the more conventional Christmas symbols.

These new fangled Christmas ‘symbols' can often be deduced as nothing more than yet another attempt to separate our cash from their already-precarious existence in our wallets. In contrast, the Christmas elements of yesteryears find their footing in a background rich with meaning and belief as the following snippets show:

The nativity scene A depiction of the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable. Considering that Christmas was originally meant to be the celebration of the birth of Christ, this scene played a very crucial reminder role indeed. The traditional set-up consists of a stable or barn, complete with farm animals such as a donkey and an ox. The baby Jesus in a manger takes center stage, alongside Joseph and Mary. Some scenes also showcase the gift-bearing three wise men and their camels along with the star they followed all the way to Bethlehem. Occasionally, the scene includes shepherds, sheep and angels. Creative licence can be said to have been taken with such an ‘all-in-one' scene as the Bible story, upon which this scene is based, indicates that the arrival of the various groups of visitors were not necessarily simultaneous.

History has it that the first 3D nativity was set up by St Francis of Assisi. Today, Christmas often sees the nativity scenes set up in homes, churches and even public parks.

The Christmas tree For many people around the world, Christmas holidays would not be complete without the Christmas tree, standing proud with its lights and colourful ornaments. An angel or star is often placed at the uppermost branch of the tree to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the nativity scene. It is said that the modern practice of decorating evergreen coniferous trees indoors first started in Germany. The Christian leader, Martin Luther, is often credited as the person who introduced this custom. As the story goes, one Christmas eve around 1513, he was walking home when the starlit sky caught his attention. Struck by how beautiful the stars looked when set against the evergreen trees, he placed a small fir tree indoors. This tree was decorated with lighted candles...and wahla! The Christmas tree was born! Queen Victoria's German husband, Prince Albert, introduced the tradition to England and from then on, it was only a matter of time before the custom found its way to the New World's shores.

The Star of Bethlehem Alternatively called the Christmas Star or the Jesus Star, this is the star the three wise men / the Magi were said to have followed in their quest to seek out the baby Jesus. In the Biblical account, the three wise men were kings from the East, who sought to pay homage to the King of the Jews. They trailed the star to Jerusalem, where they received an audience with King Herod and finally, to the stable in Bethlehem. Hence, this star has come to be regarded as the miraculous sign marking the birth of the Messiah. Be it from a theological viewpoint or from that of modern-day astronomers attempting to classify the star as everything from a comet to a massing of planets, one thing's for sure, the Star of Bethlehem has attracted and will continue to attract much attention every Christmas season.

So, the next time you find yourself drinking in all the sensorial embellishments that seemingly make up Christmas, be sure to spare some heart space for the more traditional symbols and the rich history behind them.