The Legend of the Christmas Spider
November 29, 2006 
The Legend of the Christmas Spider is a favorite among children of all ages. Include a spider among the branches of your Christmas tree. My personal favorite is the Swarovski crystal spider, but they can be made of plastic, rubber or beads. Just use your imagination.
The Czech Republic, the Ukraine, and Germany have all been given credit for this legend.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, on a very cold Christmas Eve, a gentle grandmother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year, Christmas Day. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner on the ceiling. They all fled to the farthest corner of the attic.
The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated. The poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the little Christ child’s visit. Then the oldest and wisest spider suggested they wait until everyone was asleep and then they could get a closer look.
When all was dark and silent, the spiders crept out of their hiding place and went near the tree. They were astounded by the beauty of it. The spiders crept all over the tree, up and down, over all the branches and twigs, not missing a one of the pretty ornaments.
The spiders loved the Christmas tree. All night long they danced in the branches, leaving them covered with spider webs. In the morning, when the Christ child came to bless the house, he saw what the spiders had done and knew that the grandmother would be dismayed. She had worked so hard to make everything perfect. The spiders were God’s creatures and meant no harm, so with love in his heart and a smile on his lips, he reached out and gently touched the spider webs. The webs started to sparkle, shimmer and shine. Gold and silver threads covered all the branches of the tree.
According to legend, this is why people put tinsel on their Christmas trees. It has also become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree for good luck.
Christmas Spirit 