A church is a building used for religious activities, typically by a Christian denomination. Many traditional churches are laid out in the shape of a cross. As you can see from this drawing guide, several sections of the church jut out in different directions, forming the four-pointed shape... Read more
Oogie Boogie is a boogeyman, a "mythical creature used by adults to frighten children into good behavior." He resembles a large burlap potato sack; on the inside, he is a colony of bugs. He lives in an underground lair full of torture devices. Unlike the other inhabitants of Halloween Town, Oogie Boogie is truly evil... Read more
Depictions of Jesus typically date from no earlier than the 200s AD. In the early Christian church, the making of such images was avoided for fear that they would be worshipped as idols. It was not long, however, before Jesus became a common topic in Christian art... Read more
How did a flying reindeer enter the Christmas tradition? The holiday has a long history of amalgamating customs from various sources. For example, Christmas itself was born from interposing the Christchild on the Roman religious festival of Saturnalia. Later, aspects of the celebration were drawn from Druid religious rites and... Read more
A sled or sleigh is one of the oldest vehicles known to man. Traditionally used in snowy conditions, sleighs were often pulled by dogs or horses... Read more
Christmas lights are often used to decorate Christmas trees as well as the exteriors of houses, shrubbery, and outdoor trees. Where did the tradition of illuminating homes and trees with... Read more
What is a Christmas stocking? Historically, a stocking was a long sock worn by both men and women. Christmas stockings, on the other hand, are large, oversize sock-shaped bags... Read more
Following the success of the song "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," country artist Gene Autry recorded "Frosty the Snowman... Read more
By the 1400s, bakers were shaping gingerbread into lifelike figurines. These were given as gifts on special events, such as weddings or religious holidays... Read more
The Elf on the Shelf began as a children's book published in 2005, entitled The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition. The story recounts the tale of a "scout elf," sent by Santa Claus to watch children from... Read more
