Some of us feast, give presents, decorate trees, hang wreaths, and go to church. It’s Christmas time! Jolly ole Saint Nick will be coming down our chimneys soon and we will be reunited with family members we see only once a year and we will celebrate together in all of the traditional ways. But have you ever wondered, why do we do what we do during this time of year? What are the origins of some of the traditional Christmas symbols and practices?
According to History.com, Christmas in fact was not even a holiday in the United States until 1870; however, the middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth during the darkest days of winter. Many people in the European countries celebrated the winter solstice, the end of the worst of the dark days and the beginning of more sunlight. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat; also most of the beer and wine were fermented at this time and ready for drinking.
In early Christianity, Easter was the most celebrated holiday until and Pope Julius I chose December 25 to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Which is strange because it widely is believed that Jesus was born in the Spring. Pope Julius I chose December 25, “In an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival,” which was the merriest festival of the year for Romans and was the time that they celebrated the god of Saturn. In the Middle Ages, Christmas was more like Mardi Gras. It was also the time of year when the upper classes could repay the lower class for their hard work with gifts and feasts. As for the United States; Americans didn’t start to embrace the Christmas tradition until the 19th century.
The most recognizable American Christmas symbol of all is Santa Claus, whose origins can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that St. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in the modern day Turkey. St. Nicholas was known for his kindness; it is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and the sick. Legend has it that children would hang their stockings by their bed or by the fire each night to dry and he would come to their homes and leave them money in those stockings. It is also said that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. He became known as the protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death December 6. St. Nicholas came to American culture toward the end of the 18th century. In December 1773, and again in 1774, a New York newspaper reported that groups of Dutch families had gathered to honor the anniversary of his death. The name “Santa” came from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klass, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas. And what about Santa’s features? You can thank the poet who wrote, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” for those.
Norway is the birthplace of the Yule log. Jamestown, Virginia reports by Captain John Smith, the first eggnog made and consumed in 1607. Germany is credited with decorating evergreen trees during the Winter Solstice. In 1848 the first American newspaper carried a picture of a Christmas tree and the custom spread like wild fire. In 1828, the American minister to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, brought a red-and-green plant from Mexico to America. The plants were called poinsettias and in 1870, New York stores began to sell them at Christmas; by 1900 they were a Christmas staple. Mistletoe comes from the Celts and was used to bring them good luck and to ward off evil spirits. And lastly, the manger scene comes from St. Francis of Assisi who created the first living nativity in 1224 to help explain the birth of Jesus to his followers.
While celebrating the Christmas holiday is a major social event in the U.S., other people around the world have their own winter celebrations to observe. In Sweden, most people honor St. Lucia. Traditionally, in their culture the oldest daughter in each family rises early and wakes each of her family members. Dressed in a long, white gown with a red sash, and wearing a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles, for that day she is called “Lussi,” in Finland. It is customary to visit the gravesites of the departed family members on St. Lucia day.
In Australia it is not uncommon for the weather to get up to 100 degrees and for families to have barbeques on Christmas day. People in the Ukraine prepare a traditional twelve-course meal and the family’s youngest child watches through the window for the evening star to appear so that they can start eating. In Greece people believe in kallikantzeri, goblins that appear to cause mischief during the twelve days of Christmas.
Alliance High students may have started a new tradition by turning tree skirts into fashionable apparel. If this craze catches on trees will be bare and fashonistas will dump the ugly sweaters and have a whole new look for the holidays.