Christmas Table Linens by Mediterranean Interiors

Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society. Christmas celebrations in the denominations of Western Christianity have long begun on Christmas Eve, due in part to the Christian liturgical day starting at sunset, a practice inherited from Jewish tradition, and based on the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening; for example, the Nordic Lutheran churches. Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night (based in Luke 2:6-8), Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth. The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to as Heilige Nacht (Holy Night) in German, Nochebuena (the Good Night) in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song "Silent Night, Holy Night". Many other varying cultural traditions and experiences are also associated with Christmas Eve around the world, including the gathering of family and friends, the singing of Christmas carols, the illumination and enjoyment of Christmas lights, trees, and other decorations, the wrapping, exchange and opening of gifts, and general preparation for Christmas Day. Legendary Christmas gift-bearing figures including Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Christkind, and Saint Nicholas are also often said to depart for their annual journey to deliver presents to children around the world on Christmas Eve, although until the Protestant introduction of Christkind in 16th-century Europe, such figures were said to instead deliver presents on the eve of Saint Nicholas' feast day (6 December).

Article title : Christmas Eve
"placed handfuls of hay on the table, covered it with a white linen tablecloth. "2/10/2011 Lithuanian traditions: Christmas". lithaz.org. Retrieved 22 December..."
Article title : Altar cloth
"a piece of heavy linen treated with wax (cera, from which "cere" is derived, is the Latin word for "wax") to protect the altar linens from the dampness..."
Article title : Stuttafords
"focusing on apparel, cosmetics and "soft" home goods such as bed and bath linens. In 2008, under CEO Marco Cicoria, the store pivoted again, aiming to be..."
Article title : Kūčios
"advance in some communities. On Christmas Eve, the entire residence must be thoroughly cleaned and all of the bed linens must be changed. Everyone attending..."
Article title : Freedom from Want
"from Want, also known as The Thanksgiving Picture or I'll Be Home for Christmas, is the third of the Four Freedoms series of four oil paintings by American..."
Article title : Biltmore Estate
"purchase thousands of furnishings, including tapestries, carpets, prints, linens, and decorative objects dating from the 15th century to the late 19th century..."
Article title : Budnik (Bulgarian)
"the house and placed on the fire on the evening of Christmas Eve, a central tradition in Christmas celebrations in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia..."
Article title : Tony Sarg
"with World's Fair themes for lady's scarves, handkerchiefs, dresses, table linens, and upholstery, which were sold through Lord & Taylor Department Store..."
Article title : Hostel
"effects, many guests use earplugs and eye masks. Some hostels do not provide linens. Some hostels may have a curfew and daytime lockouts. In August 1909, Richard..."
Article title : Victorian cuisine
"Setting the table was an important part of the dining aesthetic, involving expensive silverware and china, with table decorations of “glass, linen, fruits..."