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In Germany, Poland, and Ukraine, finding a spider or a spider's web on a Christmas tree is considered good luck. According to folk art curator, Lubow Wolynetz, the tradition is Ukrainian and dates back to the late 1800s or early 1900.
There are several versions of the story. Below is one:
A poor but hardworking widow lived with her children in a tiny hut. One summer day, a pine cone made its way to the earthen floor of the hut and took root. The children nurtured the little growth, and by Christmas, a tree had grown! But, being poor, they could not afford to decorate it with ornaments and the children went to bed knowing their tree would be bare come Christmas morning.
The spiders in the hut felt the children's sadness, and decided they would not leave the Christmas tree bare. So they created beautiful webs on the Christmas tree, decorating it with elegant and beautiful silky patterns.
Early the next morning, the family woke up and saw the tree covered with cobwebs. When they opened the windows, the first rays of sunlight touched the webs and turned them into gold and silver. The widow and her children were overjoyed. From then on, they never lived in poverty again.
We hope you'll find all the luck you need with a beaded spider ornament from artist, Lynette Fisk. And if luck is not what you need this holiday season, we know you'll find plenty of wonderful, handcrafted ornaments and holiday gifts at Eclectics Gallery.
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