For the species of Australian spiders commonly called "Christmas spiders", see Austracantha minax.
The Legend of the Christmas Spider is an Eastern European folktale which explains one possible origin of tinsel on Christmas trees. It is most prevalent in Western Ukraine, where small ornaments in the shape of a spider are traditionally a part of the Christmas decorations.
Legend of the Christmas Spider
A Ukrainian spider web ornament from the Christmas Around the World 2007 exhibit of the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Folk tale
Name
Legend of the Christmas Spider
Country
Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia
A poor but hardworking widow once lived in a small hut with her children. One summer day, a pine cone fell on the earthen floor of the hut and took root. The widow's children cared for the tree, excited at the prospect of having a Christmas tree by winter. The tree grew, but when Christmas Eve arrived, they could not afford to decorate it. The children sadly went to bed and fell asleep. Early the next morning, they woke up and saw the tree covered with cobwebs. When they opened the windows, the first rays of sunlight touched the webs and turned them into gold and silver. The widow and her children were overjoyed. From then on, they never lived in poverty again.[1][2]
VariantsEdit
Other versions replaces sunlight with a miracle from Father Christmas, Santa Claus, or the Child Jesus, and tells the story primarily from the perspective of the spiders who wished to see the Christmas tree.[3][4][5][6]
OriginsEdit
The origins of the folk tale are unknown, but it is believed to have come from either Germany or Ukraine.[7][8][6] In Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider's web on a Christmas tree is considered good luck.[9] Ukrainians also create small Christmas tree ornaments in the shape of a spider (known as pavuchky, literally "little spiders"), usually made of paper and wire. They also decorate Christmas trees with artificial spider webs.[10] The tradition of using tinsel is also said to be because of this story.[3][2][11]
According to Lubow Wolynetz, folk art curator at the Ukrainian Museum, New York City, the tradition is Ukrainian and dates back to the late 1800s or early 1900.[12]
It may be based on an older European superstition about spiders bringing luck (though not black spiders in Germany),[8] or conversely that it is bad luck to destroy a spider's web before the spider is safely out of the way.[3]
^"Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light: Slovenia to Wales". Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.
^ ab"The Ukrainian Tradition of Spider Webs and Christmas". Ukraine.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ abcDeeAnn Mandryk (2005). Canadian Christmas Traditions: Festive Recipes and Stories From Coast to Coast. James Lorimer & Company. pp. 56–57. ISBN9781554390984.
^. Spider Wisdom. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^Julia Goralka (11 December 2011). "A Christmas tree, Jesus, and a spider". Washington Times. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ ab. Martha Stewart Living. December 2001. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^Orysia Paszczak Tracz (31 December 2006). "A spider for Christmas?". The Ukrainian Weekly. 74 (53).
^ abBarbara Klumb (20 December 1978). "Spider Tale Spins a Web of Holiday Yore". The Milwaukee Journal: 1, 3.[dead link]
legend, christmas, spider, species, australian, spiders, commonly, called, christmas, spiders, austracantha, minax, eastern, european, folktale, which, explains, possible, origin, tinsel, christmas, trees, most, prevalent, western, ukraine, where, small, ornam. For the species of Australian spiders commonly called Christmas spiders see Austracantha minax The Legend of the Christmas Spider is an Eastern European folktale which explains one possible origin of tinsel on Christmas trees It is most prevalent in Western Ukraine where small ornaments in the shape of a spider are traditionally a part of the Christmas decorations Legend of the Christmas SpiderA Ukrainian spider web ornament from the Christmas Around the World 2007 exhibit of the Museum of Science and Industry ChicagoFolk taleNameLegend of the Christmas SpiderCountryUkraine Germany Poland Denmark Norway Sweden Finland RussiaRegionEurope Contents 1 Story 2 Variants 3 Origins 4 See also 5 ReferencesStory EditA poor but hardworking widow once lived in a small hut with her children One summer day a pine cone fell on the earthen floor of the hut and took root The widow s children cared for the tree excited at the prospect of having a Christmas tree by winter The tree grew but when Christmas Eve arrived they could not afford to decorate it The children sadly went to bed and fell asleep Early the next morning they woke up and saw the tree covered with cobwebs When they opened the windows the first rays of sunlight touched the webs and turned them into gold and silver The widow and her children were overjoyed From then on they never lived in poverty again 1 2 Variants EditOther versions replaces sunlight with a miracle from Father Christmas Santa Claus or the Child Jesus and tells the story primarily from the perspective of the spiders who wished to see the Christmas tree 3 4 5 6 Origins EditThe origins of the folk tale are unknown but it is believed to have come from either Germany or Ukraine 7 8 6 In Germany Poland and Ukraine finding a spider or a spider s web on a Christmas tree is considered good luck 9 Ukrainians also create small Christmas tree ornaments in the shape of a spider known as pavuchky literally little spiders usually made of paper and wire They also decorate Christmas trees with artificial spider webs 10 The tradition of using tinsel is also said to be because of this story 3 2 11 According to Lubow Wolynetz folk art curator at the Ukrainian Museum New York City the tradition is Ukrainian and dates back to the late 1800s or early 1900 12 It may be based on an older European superstition about spiders bringing luck though not black spiders in Germany 8 or conversely that it is bad luck to destroy a spider s web before the spider is safely out of the way 3 See also Edit Children s literature portal Christianity portalCultural depictions of spiders The Fir Tree Hans Christian Andersen tale about a Christmas tree Ukrainian folkloreReferences Edit Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light Slovenia to Wales Museum of Science and Industry Chicago a b The Ukrainian Tradition of Spider Webs and Christmas Ukraine com Retrieved 6 December 2014 a b c DeeAnn Mandryk 2005 Canadian Christmas Traditions Festive Recipes and Stories From Coast to Coast James Lorimer amp Company pp 56 57 ISBN 9781554390984 Legend of the Christmas Spider Spider Wisdom 19 December 2010 Archived from the original on 30 August 2012 Retrieved 6 December 2014 Julia Goralka 11 December 2011 A Christmas tree Jesus and a spider Washington Times Retrieved 6 December 2014 a b Tabletop Trees Tinsel Tree Martha Stewart Living December 2001 Archived from the original on 4 December 2014 Retrieved 6 December 2014 Orysia Paszczak Tracz 31 December 2006 A spider for Christmas The Ukrainian Weekly 74 53 a b Barbara Klumb 20 December 1978 Spider Tale Spins a Web of Holiday Yore The Milwaukee Journal 1 3 dead link Arlene Erlbach 2002 Merry Christmas Everywhere Millbrook Press p 42 ISBN 9780761319566 The wonderful and weird Christmas traditions around the world Punchline 11 December 2011 Retrieved 6 December 2014 Ukrainian Christmas Spider Ornaments Solovei Magazine 8 December 2011 Retrieved 6 December 2014 https www today com home spider ornaments christmas trees symbolize good luck t120335 full citation needed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Legend of the Christmas Spider amp oldid 1164590026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
