Legend of the Christmas Spider

**crazyBMB** · 12-14-2006, 08:23 AM

I don't know if any one has heard this legend, but I love it and made Ornaments to give out to family:

THE OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER
(A folk legend from Germany and the Ukraine)

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.
T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty.
But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!
Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

**favesis37** · 12-14-2006, 08:35 AM

that is so neat! thanks

**bevjean** · 12-14-2006, 11:32 AM

Thanks for sharing. I have seen kits for Christmas Spiders in craft stores but didn't know the history.

**trishh** · 12-14-2006, 05:17 PM

thanks for sharing i am of German decent and few others and had never heard this one it is so cute. my daughters will love this one

**pqb57** · 12-15-2006, 07:01 AM

That is a great story, I'll have to tell it to the grandkids on Christmas Eve.

**MarshHen** · 12-16-2006, 07:22 AM

Oh I love this story and I have a little spider ornament on my tree every year. I hide it every year and it's now a family tradition that on Christmas Eve, the children try to find it. Before the hunt, I always read them the story.

**slowtypinwoman** · 12-16-2006, 07:57 PM

I have a friend who sells these at craft shows. It is a neat legend.

**Missy** · 12-16-2006, 08:06 PM

yep. we have a spider n ours too. every year. it's always been tradition for the parents to hide it and the kids to find it somewhere on the tree. SOmething we have carried on with our kids.

**AmyBoz** · 12-17-2006, 07:34 AM

I had never heard this before! Thank you for sharing!

**babetteq** · 12-18-2006, 03:04 AM

I HAVE Christmas spider!!! It was given to me years and years ago and itls lovely, all shiney gold with a glass spider on it. I've kept it forever, but everyone thinks I'm making up stories when I tell them that there is such thing as christmas spiders!! Thanks!!!