In what country are christmas trees decorated with spiders

Bugs on a Christmas tree doesn't sound that exciting. For some cultures, however, insects on a Christmas tree actually symbolize good luck!

Spiders on Christmas trees — usually in the form of ornaments — are a Ukrainian tradition that dates back to the late 1800s or early 1900s, according to Lubow Wolynetz, folk art curator at New York City's Ukrainian Museum.

Often referred to as "The Legend of the Christmas Spider," the practice of using spider decorations coincided with the growing use of evergreens for holiday decor, according to Wolynetz.

As the legend goes, a poor family couldn't afford to properly decorate a Christmas tree, so the mother decided to hang a few nuts and fruits on the small tree, hoping to bring smiles to her children on Christmas Day. A bunch of spiders went to work, weaving their webs on the tree, and when the sun came up on Christmas Day, the webs turned into silver and gold for the family.

Over time, spider decorations became increasingly popular, and Wolynetz said they're actually gaining in traction today.

"Spiders have always been considered 'good luck insects' in Ukrainian tradition," Wolynetz explained. "This tiny insect magically creates beauty on the tree — it’s the ideal Christmas adornment for a very magical holiday."

Every year, The Ukrainian Museum conducts workshops on traditional Ukrainian Christmas tree ornaments, and Wolynetz said the most popular ornament is always the spider. Other popular traditional ornaments include mobiles and clowns (made from emptied eggs).

If it brings good luck, it’s safe to say this ornament trend is something even arachnophobes can get behind!

This story was originally published Dec. 20, 2017 on TODAY.

Sometimes, it seems that our lives revolve around the holidays rather than some ordinary job or mundane career that we might have.

This adorable jumping spider wants to wish you a merry Christmas!

photo by picshunger

An Interesting Holiday Tradition

In many places on the planet, spiders are seen as symbols of good luck, prosperity, and wealth. This is certainly true in Central and Eastern Europe, where these eight-legged critters are believed to bring good fortune and even money.

Perhaps this explains why in countries like Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Finland, spiders often appear on Christmas trees as shiny ornaments atop an elaborately spun cobweb. In these countries, there exists a colorful collection of stories that tell of how spiders helped the infant Jesus as part of the nativity story.

Spiders and Tinsel

Of all the spider stories revolving around Christmas, one of the most common comes from Poland and Ukraine. This story involves a family of spiders who dwell in a house in which a Christmas tree has just been brought indoors. The tree is placed in a special place and decorated. That night, after the family has gone to bed, the spiders come out of hiding to admire the new addition to the winter household. While doing so, they travel from branch to branch, eventually covering the entire evergreen with their webs. This tale may contribute to the tradition of hanging tinsel and replicas of real spiders on the Yuletide tree in Eastern Europe.

This gigantic Christmas decoration by Japanese installation artist, Chiharu Shiota, definitely resembles a large spider web.

Spiders Hide the Baby Jesus

There is also a fascinating Christmas story from Eastern European folklore that concerns Joseph, Mary, the infant Jesus, and some spiders. According to this tall tale, Mary and Joseph were fleeing Roman soldiers and decided to hide in a cave with their infant child. To protect the three refugees, a band of spiders wove a web across the front of the cave. When the soldiers arrived, they took one look at the frighteningly strong and sticky barrier and decided not to enter the cave. This story is quite popular in Eastern Europe, and an English version can even be found in a few American bookstores.

Baby Jesus and the Spider Blanket

Fortunately, for those who love a good story, there are other Christmas yarns that feature spiders. According to Polish legend, spiders made a blanket for the Christ child on the eve of his birth. To honor this good deed, many Polish families hang a replica spider web with a spider in it on their tree to honor the Christmas spiders. Not surprisingly, the spider story has evolved over the years, resulting in several newer versions that are commercially available today. No matter how you look at it, the spider Christmas blanket legend stands as a fascinating way to honor the first Christmas.

Since the birth of Christ, many colorful stories have been added to the Christmas lore, giving new and colorful commentary to the nativity. In The Christmas Spider, Geraldine Ann Maxwell not only adds a fanciful tale about a band of spiders but also other stories about honeybees and crickets.

A Christmas web and spider ornament might look something like this.

wikipedia

Spider Ornaments

Spider Christmas tree ornaments come in all kinds of sizes, styles, colors, and materials. Many feature a concentric web with a small spider attached, as depicted in the image above. Others are simple, three-dimensional spiders that hang from the tree just like a Christmas bulb or glass figurine. These objects are often made from shiny, reflective materials like glass or glazed pottery. Some people even make their own using craft supplies.

Spiders' Unpopularity in the West

In the U.S. and Western Europe, the spider is often viewed as an ominous or devilish animal. As a result, these eight-legged invertebrates are often searched out and systematically destroyed. Furthermore, if a cobweb should be discovered in a human's household, the intrusive web will more likely than not be quickly removed.

Fortunately, much of the remaining world has a much more positive view of spiders, whose presence on the planet is often beneficial, as they devour large quantities of insects and, unlike their six-legged cousins, do not carry any diseases that can be contracted by humans.

Sculpture of a spider mother by Louise Bourgoise

Fear of Spiders

Arachnida, the scientific class of invertebrates that includes spiders (spiders are not insects), derives its name from a colorful figure in Greek mythology named Arachne. According to legend, Arachne was a mortal woman and artisan who dared to challenge the Gods to a weaving contest. Amazingly, she won, but out of spite, the goddess Athena killed her by hanging her from her own tapestry. Later, Athena took pity on the poor woman and turned her into a spider, which kind of explains why spiders are called arachnids, and fear of spiders is called arachnophobia.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2018 Harry Nielsen

Harry Nielsen (author) from Durango, Colorado on January 06, 2019:

Not only are spiders considered beneficial, but in some places like Thailand and Cambodia, they are considered fine cuisine. (especially the tarantula)

Nell Rose from England on January 05, 2019:

Wow! who knew? I still hate the horrible little things, but I believe it, lol!

James C Moore from Joliet, IL on November 21, 2018:

Wow, I didn't know spiders had so much love throughout the world. I've always had a do not disturb policy when it comes to spider webs. It'll be that much more now that I know how they've contributed to Christmas.

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