The Heartwarming (And Completely Not Creepy) Reason People Are Decorating Their Christmas Trees with Spiders

Meghan Overdeep
Updated
Hear us out on this one y’all. This could very well become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Look out Christmas Pickle, there’s a new unlikely ornament in town, and this one has eight legs.

We know what you’re thinking: creepy crawlies have no place on your beautiful Christmas tree, no matter how seasonal. But hear us out. The Christmas Spider is nothing to be scared of. On the contrary, it’s based on a sweet European tale and could very well become your new favorite holiday tradition.

A folk tale most often attributed to Ukraine and Germany, the most popular version involves a widowed mother who was too poor to decorate her family’s Christmas tree. Her children spent that Christmas Eve crying in their beds, knowing that they would wake up to a bare tree the next morning. Hearing the sobs of the children, the spiders in the house decided to do what they could to decorate the tree.

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Have you heard of the Christmas Spider Legend? True legend...I don't know that for sure... But cute little story anyhow. Actually I have seen three. First is one of baby Jesus. A spider folded Jesus in a warm web to protect from the cold stable. So a promise was made between Mary & the spider, that whom ever can see the spider on the tree in Christmas Eve will received good fortune. The other two are about spiders who come to adore the tree. Running up and down the tree leaving their web behind. When Santa came and saw the webs, with magic turned it all to silver and gold. I suppose meaning tinsel. The beginning stories are a little different, but so neat either way. For Christmas a couple years ago, my kids & I made little spiders for all my coworkers and some family. While it almost became a task I didn't think would ever end, it was a gift I loved giving. #christmasspider #diygifts #holidaygifts #christmascrafts #diychristmasornament

A post shared by Little Iowa Farmstead (@littleiowafarmstead) on Nov 27, 2018 at 8:47pm PST

So, the spiders created beautiful webs on the Christmas tree, and the next morning the family was greeted by a radiant sight: the golden sunlight reflecting off the spiders’ intricate silk patterns. According to the story, the widow and her children went on to live their lives with good fortune.

Today, people decorate their Christmas trees with spider ornaments as a reminder of nature’s bounty and to bring good luck in the new year.

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First effort at a #christmascrafts project. After reading about the Ukrainian legend of the Christmas Spider, I sadly couldn’t find one in the stores. So next best thing?...make it. Needs some refinement but not a bad effort from these ham-handed paws! ???? #christmas #christmasspider #christmasdecorations #christmastree #christmastales

A post shared by GKxYYZ (@gkxyyz) on Nov 22, 2018 at 1:16pm PST

You can shop a whole selection of Christmas Spider ornaments on Amazon and Etsy.