I filled the lanterns with these glittery pinecones. I love the silvery sparkle.
My mom gave me these little angels. I remember them sitting on our Christmas table with red candles as a child.
I wanted to incorporate greenery, so why not stick a Christmas cactus on the mantel? I'm allergic to many other plants, including pine.
If you are interested in this painting, you can read more about it here.
I have always received an orange in the toe of my Christmas stocking. This is a tradition that I have continued with my children...they each get a big orange in their stockings. I always assumed that every child received an orange, until I discovered that my husband and his family never did this tradition in their family.
I was never really sure why we got an orange. I think my mom said that the tradition originated years ago when fresh fruit was scarce in winter, so it was a treat to receive an orange. As my kids to get old enough to ask about this tradition, I thought I better do some homework to discover its origins.
The tradition dates back to the time of the real St. Nicholas in Turkey. St. Nicholas heard three poor sisters complaining that they would be sold into slavery because their family did not have enough money to provide a dowry for them to marry. The sisters hung their stockings up by the fire to dry before they went to bed. In the morning, they found gold coins in their stockings. It is said that St. Nicholas threw gold coins down the chimney and the gold landed in the stockings for the girls to find when the went to put their stockings on in the morning. Today, oranges symbolize the gold.
Check out these cute printable labels that be added to the oranges:
Linking here:
Ten June as part of the Bringing Christmas Cheer to the Blogosphere.
it looks so happy and cheerful! and of course i love those glittered pine cones!
ReplyDeleteGreat mantel...The green ornaments are wonderful mixed in with the silver! I used what I had on hand too...like minds!! Great job!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous picture above your mantle!! I love the sparkly pine cones too, it adds the perfect Christmasy touch! I'm a new follower, congrats your almost at 200!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, Suzy, and is so meaningful with angels you grew up with and the story about the oranges sounds probable. I do like all the silver accents, too. I have to take a closer look at that amazing painting as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the bling :) Your mantel looks great Suzy!
ReplyDeleteLove the green and silver! very neat!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful Suzy! What is that cool object on the far left? I love the lanterns filled with pine cones. We also got oranges in the toe of our stockings growing up and we just got the story on the tradition a few years ago from my Mom. We will continue with Sheila as well.
ReplyDeleteHappy, homey and twinkly - such a pretty Christmas mantle, Suzy!
ReplyDeleteWe always had an Orange in the toe too, and I never thought to research it, so interesting. Thanks for sharing the link to the printable, I will be using it! and I love those sparkely pinecones. So pretty. Thanks for linking, sharing this :)
ReplyDeleteI got an orange too! My husband thought it was weird last year when I put an orange in his stocking. I also has assumed everyone got an orange.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the meaning behind it! I had never thought about looking it up.
Your mantel looks beautiful Suzy. I love the lanterns with the glittery pinecones.
ReplyDeleteI remember briefly hearing that there was a tradition where stockings were stuffed with an orange, but I did not know the story behind it. Thank you for sharing!