#703. Holiday legends

other, level: all
Posted Sun Nov 15 10:36:40 PST 1998 by GK ().

1. Leprechaun's Legend

Listen carefully on an irish spring day and you just might hear the tapping of a leprechaun's hammer, as he makes fairy shoes. If you can catch him, he must tell you where his gold is hidden. But he's tricky so, don"t let him
get away!

(this legend was attached to a leprechaun I bought at Hallmark Cards. The rest of the saying was:

This little leprechaun comes with many good wishes for a happy St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you, and never get away!

2. The Legend of the Five Kernels

The first winter the Pilgrims spent in their new home was very cold. Food was in short supply. Some days they had only enough food for each person to have five kernels of food that day. They planted food and it grew. From then on, when the time of Thanksgiving came around, the Pilgrims put five kernels of corn on each plate to remind them of their blessings. Let us also remember.

The first kernel reminds us of the autumn beauty around us.
The second kernel reminds us of our love for each other.
The third kernel reminds us of God's love and care for us.
The fourth kernel reminds us of our friends, especially our Native American brothers.
The fifth kernel reminds us that we are a free people.

(This was either posted last year on this ring or on another site. I send a copy home with a little baggie with five pieces of candy corn.)

3. The Story of the Candy Cane

The legend is:
It was invented by a Christian in England in the 17th century. At that time the government would not let people celebrate Christmas. So a candy maker made candy shaped like a crook to be a secret symbol of Jesus. The three small stripes represent the Holy Spirit. The large red stripe is for the life of Jesus, that He gave up for us. The candy was a double gift, a sweet treat and a symbol of Christmas.

(The children make a beaded candy cane ornament and I attach it to the legend).

4. The Legend of the Sand Dollar

Here's a lovely little story
That so many men will tell,
Of the life and death of Jesus
Etched upon this lonely shell.

If you look at it real closely,
You will find an image here
Of four nails and then another
From a Roman's sharpened spear.

One side shows the Easter Lily
With its center as a star,
That shined brightly for the shepherds
As they traveled from afar.

And the Yuletide pointsettia
Painted on the other side
Tells us Christ was born on Christmas
Wore our cross until he died.

If you break the center open,
You will find the sign of peace
Five white doves in gleaming beauty,
With its wonders never cease!

So you see the simple story;
Jesus lived for you and me,
To carry on His work on earth,
To love humanity.

(This was on a post card bought at the beach)

5. The Legend of the Dogwood.

There is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak tree and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber of the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it , sensed this, and in his gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it:" Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the
dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross...two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

(This was sent to me by someone on the mailring)

6. The Legend of the Silver Pinecones
Hartz Mountains Germany

Years ago there lived a poor family with barely enough to eat and little wood for a fire to keep warm. In desperation the mother went to the woods to gather pinecones...some to burn, some to sell for food. Suddenly she heard a voice, "Why are you stealing my pinecones?" Beside her was an elf, to whom she told her sad story. With a smile he said, "Go into the next forest. The pinecones there will serve you much better." When she reached the next forest she was very tired and set her basket down...and down fell dozens of pinecones! She gathered them and returned home. When she reached the doorstep she discovered every cone had turned to silver! The family would never be poor again.
To this day the people of the Hartz Mountains keep a silver pinecone on the dresser, for as legend has it...a silver pinecone will bring good fortune your way!

(I will probably have the children paint the pinecones and cover with silver glitter as a little gift for mom and dad sometime).

7. The Legend of the Snowman Angel

Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every snowman. Each carefully placed handful of snow, a special scarf, maybe even a loving teddy all help to bring our snowman to life, creating special memories of time spent
together. Eventually the snowman will melt with the warmth of the sun, but his memory will continue to live on. For with every snowman you've built that's melted away, you've added a snowangel to heaven that day.

(This was attached to a little snowman pin)