Legend of the Spider
A long time ago in Scotland, while a mother was busily cleaning house in preparation for Christmas the spiders that usually stayed in the living room fled upstairs to the attic to escape her broom.
From the attic they could hear all the commotion from below as decorations were being made for when the Christ Child was to come on Christmas Eve bringing gifts for the children.
Excited to see the tree, the spiders crept downstairs for a view. Oh, what a beautiful tree!
They scurried up the trunk and out along each branch. They were filled with happiness as they climbed all through the tree to see the glittering of its beauty.
But alas! By the time they were finished, the tree was completely shrouded in their dusty-grey spider webs.
When the Christ Child came, He smiled at how happy the spiders were. However, He knew how heart-broken the mother would be if she saw the tree covered with the dusty webs. So, He reached out and touched the webs, blessing them and turning them into silver and gold. The trees sparkled and shimmered with radiant beauty.
Thus, the custom to have a spider ornament amongst all the decorations with the tinsel of gold and silver on the Christmas tree was born.
Leaving a spider ornament hanging in some corner of the house is a welcome sign to the Christ Child to visit throughout the year and brings only goodwill and good luck.