Christmas Spider

The legend of the Christmas spider has ties to tinsel, but comes with a whimsical tale (or four) which likely found their way from Ukraine. Regardless of where this bit of festive folklore originated, the tradition of the Christmas spider now lives on in homes across the world where a tiny spider or web ornament is tucked within the branches of a holiday spruce. Spiders, preferably the ornamental kind, are said to bring luck in the new year, which is why many still hang them on their trees each season. The first story, begins with a pinecone that had started to grow into a pine just outside the home of a widow and her children. It was summer and the children were filled with joy at the thought of growing a tree in time for Christmas. Fast forward to Christmas Eve and the tree stood bare as the family didn’t have enough money to buy decorations. When they woke on Christmas morning, a spider had covered the tree in cobwebs, which miraculously turned to gilded strands of silver and gold w