Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the legend interesting. The Legend of the Christmas Spider Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of Christmas Eve. 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 forgotten attic. Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting 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. 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 and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had inspected every bit of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

Interesting bit of folklore ... thanks Dick S. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 15:45 Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider > Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the > legend interesting. > > > The Legend of the Christmas Spider > > Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning > the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was > left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of > Christmas Eve. 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 forgotten attic. > > Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting 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. 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 and across the floor to > wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and > quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they > couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they > could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along > each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place > they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had > inspected every bit > of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. > > The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. > But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be > broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed > them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree > glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have > hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom > to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. > > > >

Recently my mother and I were talking about her most recent visit to Germany. She mentioned something about seeing homes with chalk marks above the doors. She couldn't remember what she had been told this meant. All she could say was she thinks it had something to do with some sort of prayer. Anyone know what she was trying to tell me about? Thanks for your input. Gena Schmear (in Germany it was spelled SCHMEER) Dallas, TX

Love the story!! Any idea what region this originated from? Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 6:45 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider | Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the | legend interesting. | | | The Legend of the Christmas Spider | | Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning | the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was | left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of | Christmas Eve. 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 forgotten attic. | | Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting 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. 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 and across the floor to | wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and | quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they | couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they | could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along | each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place | they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had | inspected every bit | of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. | | The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. | But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be | broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed | them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree | glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have | hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom | to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. | | | |

What a wonderful story...!!!!! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 3:45 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider > Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the > legend interesting. > > > The Legend of the Christmas Spider > > Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning > the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was > left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of > Christmas Eve. 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 forgotten attic. > > Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting 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. 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 and across the floor to > wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and > quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they > couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they > could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along > each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place > they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had > inspected every bit > of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. > > The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. > But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be > broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed > them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree > glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have > hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom > to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. > > > >