The Legend of the Christmas Spider

   Many years ago, on the night before Christmas, a woman prepared for the next day's celebration. She cleaned and scrubbed her home until every nook and cranny sparkled. The household spiders fled to the attic to escape her broom. Then they listened to the excitement below while the family decorated the Christmas tree. After everyone went to sleep, and the house grew quiet, the spiders crept back downstairs to see the beautiful tree. They were amazed and crawled along every branch admiring each ornament. Soon the whole tree was covered with their webs.

   Father Christmas arrived that night and he smiled as he looked at the webs the spiders had spun, but he knew the woman would be upset when she saw them completely covering her tree. With one touch, he turned their webs into strands of silver and gold. Now the Christmas tree shimmered even more beautifully than before. Thus began the tradition of hanging tinsel, and a spider ornament, while trimming the tree.