Tartan design by Santa Bruce Arnold for the Clan Claus Society

Saint Nicholas (15 March 270 – 6 December 343) also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, a practice celebrated on his feast day and thus became the model for Santa Claus, whose modern name comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

By designer Carol Martin, the Christmas is Coming tartan uses the deep reds, maroons, and a special green (British Racing Green) that for many, instantly recall the colors of the Christmas season and combine together for a beautiful effect in tartan. Amongst a particular generation, especially in the United States, a fond childhood memory and annual tradition is to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas", an animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, debuting in 1965.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

Wassail is a hot, mulled punch often associated with Yuletide drunk from a 'wassailing bowl'. The earliest versions were warmed mead – ale brewed with honey – into which roasted crab apples were dropped and burst to create a drink called 'lambswool'. ​ Later, the drink evolved to become a mulled cider made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, topped with slices of toast as sops and drunk from a large communal bowl.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

Dressing for the holidays can often include not only seasonal colours for clothing, but traditional decorations, including decking the halls, not only with boughs of holly, but often with the mistletoe herb, in the form of a "kissing-bough." Kissing under sprigs of mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, but this plant’s history as a symbolic herb dates back thousands of years. Many ancient cultures prized mistletoe for its healing properties.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time") is a festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples, a period of feasting, drinking, and sacrifice. The traditions of the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar (Sonargöltr) are still reflected in the Christmas ham, Yule singing, and other traditions from the ancient Yule customs. ​

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

December is the month devoted to traditional Christmas foods, and gingerbreads and cookies are one of the most anticipated of Christmas treats. With many variations of ingredients, gingerbread is usually flavoured with ginger, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, coriander, star anise, mace, cardamom, and black pepper. In Germany, gingerbread cookies called Lebkuchen have long been a fixture at street festivals, often in the shape of hearts frosted with sugary messages.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

In Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is transported by The Ghost of Christmas Past to his youth on a Christmas Eve, back in time to a festive holiday party held by Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. This tartan design by Carol Martin was created with the warm colours of an old-fashioned and merry Christmas Party.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

In modern traditional folklore, a Christmas elf is a diminutive creature that lives with Santa Claus in the North Pole and acts as his helper. Christmas elves are often depicted as green or red clad with pointy ears and pointy hats. Santa's elves are often said to make the toys in Santa's workshop and take care of his reindeer, among other tasks.

Tartan design by Carol A.L. Martin

Eggnog is traditionally consumed throughout Canada and the United States at Christmas every year, often from American Thanksgiving through the end of the Christmas season. ​ Eggnog may have developed from posset, a medieval European beverage made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavoured with spices. In the Middle Ages, posset was used as a cold and flu remedy and remained a popular remedy throughout the 19th century. ​

Tartan design by Tartans 4 Africa

We Three Kings by James C. Christensen The tartan is inspired by the spirit of Christmas. Colours: green represents Frankincense; red represents Myrrh and yellow represents gold, the colour of kingship. Gold, frankincense and myrrh are the gifts given to the Baby Jesus by the three Kings in the nativity story, each symbolic of Jesus' life and death.