The Christmas season is in full swing, and everyone is busy decking the halls, shopping for gifts, and drinking eggnog. For most of us, we don’t know why we do these things, it’s just what we do. It’s what our parents did, and their parents before them. But, why is it that we decorate a tree with ornaments or hang stockings on the mantel for Santa? Where did these traditions come from? Here is the history on a few of our favorites…
Stockings: Hanging stockings on the mantel can be traced back to Saint Nicholas. Nicholas wanted to give children treats (some stories even say he gave gold coins) as a reward for their hard work, and he needed a place to leave them so they could find their treasures. According to legends, he noticed girls’ stocking hanging by the fireplace to dry and figured this was as good a place as any. The rest is history.
Christmas Trees: Today’s Christmas tree has come a long way from its origins. The evergreen tree symbolizes immortality and fortitude because it remains green year-round, and it has often been used in winter festivals throughout history. In Christian tradition, evergreen trees were put up indoors to ward off evil spirits and provide solace for any remaining birds for the cold, winter months. Traditionally, Christmas trees were decorated with fruit and nuts.
Mistletoe: During the Christmas season, we all try to sneak a kiss from our love interest under the mistletoe. In fact, mistletoe is a parasitic plant that lives on certain tree branches and sucks the nutrients out, ultimately killing the tree. However, mistletoe is symbolic in mythological traditions around the globe and is thought to bring good luck and protection to households. It is also used as a symbol of love and friendship; thus, the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began in 16th century England, and has since become a worldwide tradition.
Just as Christmas traditions remain as society changes around us, so do traditional marketing techniques. Many businesses find themselves wondering how to navigate in this ever-changing digital marketing landscape, and it is important to remember that some things are better left unchanged. Digital marketing is an important part of your marketing plan, but so are traditional methods such as direct mail, radio and television, and promotional products. Combining traditional and modern methods is the best way to maximize your ROI, build brand awareness, and reach your target market.
Not sure where to start? Reach out to us! Our marketing experts will analyze you business and target market, and help you develop a custom plan tailored to your needs and goals, complete with both digital and traditional marketing methods.