By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Weekend Editor

Christmas, a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, has endured and evolved over the last 2,000 years, spreading traditions around the world and creating the largest religious holiday in the world.

But where do we get Santa Claus and the traditions of mistletoe, and stockings and Christmas trees? How did they become associated with a religious holiday and how it has united the world?

The idea of the Christmas tree originated even before Christmas. Egyptians used to bring green palm branches into their homes on the shortest day of the year as a symbol of life's triumph over death. Romans decorated evergreen trees during the festival of Saturnalia, honoring their agriculture god during the winter solstice.

The Christmas tree began to get its Christian ties in the Middle Ages, when people would decorate an evergreen tree with apples. They called the tree a Paradise tree and associated it with Adam and Eve.

The first real Christmas tree is traced to Strasbourg, Germany. People decorated the tree with colored paper, fruits and sweets. The tradition spread through Europe and then over to the United States. In 1804, American soldiers at Fort Dearborn surrounded their barracks with Christmas trees. Franklin Pierce, our 14th president, was the first president to bring a Christmas tree into the white house and Calvin Coolidge began the lighting ceremony on the lawn in 1923.

Now, Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states. There are over one million acres in production for growing Christmas trees and over 37 million U.S. families will have real Christmas trees this year. The trees are not exclusive to any religion, but serve as a reminder of the winter solstice, the holiday season and the birth of Christ.

As for Santa Claus, every nation seems to have a variation on the jolly old man. In some nations, he leaves fruits or decorates cookies; in others he delivers gifts. Though associated with Christmas in this country, in many nations Santa arrives either several days before or several days after the holiday.

Saint Nicholas, where Santa gets his name, was said to have saved a family of sisters from slavery. He was later promoted to bishop, but the Vatican ruled that he was not a real saint. He is the patron saint of children and sailors of Greece, Sicily and Russia and has been identified with a bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. He was known as Sinter Klaus in the Netherlands, and the English who lived in New York City in the 19th century adopted him from the Dutch, calling him Santa Claus.

Each country has its own description of what he looks like and when he comes, but the main thrust is quite similar in any nation. He watches over all the boys and girls of the world and delivers goodies to the children who have behaved and punishes the children who have been bad.

The story of stockings has been traced to 19th century Quebec and Acadia. Children placed their shoes or stockings by the fireplace or by their beds, so Pere Noel would put gifts in them. The tradition has endured for hundreds of years and is associated with the holiday in many stories and Christmas carols.

Another aspect of the Christmas holiday that has endured is the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. During the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, mistletoe was believed to be a bestower of fertility. In later years, people in Scandinavia considered it a way for warring couples to call a truce.

Mistletoe is properly called loranthaceae, and consists of parasitic herbs and shrubs, with leathery leaves and white berries. It is considered proper etiquette for a man to pluck off a berry after every kiss and stop the kissing once all the berries are gone.

One of the final traditions to examine is that of the candy cane. It is believed that its shape of a shepherd's crook is no mistake and that it was a reward for children who learned their prayers. There is little documentation of this theory, or the theory that it is the shape of a J, for Jesus Christ.

The candy cane was not prevalent until the 17th century, when Christmas trees were gaining popularity and being decorated with treats. The candy cane was all white at first and did not take its current shape until coming to America in the 19th century.

The United States is the one nation that seems to use all of these holiday traditions in Christmas celebrations. There is little doubt that these traditions came here from Europe, especially England. Many of the traditions took hold in the 19th century and have expanded as did the country, with its wealth and commercialism.

Though some would argue that the true meaning of the holiday is lost amidst all of the furor and clamor over gifts, decorations and parties, one needs only to remember that these traditions all serve as a reminder and that our happiness and love for one another is in the true spirit of the holiday.

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