It’s that time of the year again.
Santa Claus, reindeer, singing carols, putting up trees and decorating them while putting presents underneath, dealing with the struggles of shopping, and the after-holiday debt. All the traditions that come with Christmas… But what are the origins of this special time of the year? Johann Hollar explains.
You can read Johann’s first article on the site on Chinese legend Mulan here.
A 1907 postcard with Santa Claus and his reindeers.
The Beginning of Christmas
For those of you who have gone to church for the many Sundays in your life I know that you are aware of the fact that December 24 and 25, are the days that honor the birth of The Savior Jesus Christ.
Originally the holiday was known as Saturnalia by the Romans. It was during the same month as Christmas. Executions were halted and conflicts were forbidden from being started during this time. Decorating the houses, gift giving, feasting, and giving to the poor were also common during this festival. There was also gambling, socializing, and playing music. (1)
Yule time
The reference to “Yuletide Carol” in the popular Christmas carol refers to the ancient Germanic calendar during their lunar year known as “yule” thus referring to the winter solstice, which we nowadays would refer to as December and January
It is also said by scholars, that this particular holiday is connected to the Norse god Odin and the Anglo-Saxon pagan name Mōdraniht or “Night of the Mother”, during which ritual sacrifices may have been made. (2)
Christmas Tree
While using plants to symbolize the Winter Solstice wasn’t uncommon in pre-Christian times, it wasn’t until the time of the reformer Martin Luther that he cut down a fir tree and put a small candle on one of the branches.
It would not be until the early 17thcentury that Christmas trees would become a ‘thing’. There was much opposition to them from the clergy because of the use of Jesus Christ in such a celebration. Oliver Cromwell was a loud opponent in this, claiming that this heathen tradition with Christmas carols and being joyful was desecrating a sacred event.
It would not be until 1846, during the ninth year of the reign of Queen Victoria, when she and her husband Albert were sketched for the Illustrated London Newswith their children outside Windsor Castle that Christmas trees became more popular. German immigrants brought their traditions to England and after Queen Victoria started celebrating Christmas with the fir trees it quickly became a custom all over England.
The Christmas tree became more popular in the United States after President Franklin Pierce (1853-57) had a Christmas tree brought into the White House. President Calvin Coolidge was the first President to have the tree lighting ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923. (3)
Santa Claus
Jolly old Saint Nick himself has quite the tale behind him.
The inspiration behind Santa Claus began in the fourth century CE (Common Era) where he was known as St. Nicholas and was a Bishop. It was also said that St. Nicholas himself was a very rich person from when his parents died at a young age.
What made him such a legend was that there was a poor man who had three daughters and had no money to give as a dowry. One night, a bag of gold was dropped down the chimney for the first daughter and then later the second. When it came time for the third bag of gold, Nicholas was caught by the father. He had beseeched the father not to tell anyone, but news got out anyway and Nicholas was given the title of Saint.
It would not be until the sixteenth century, after the Reformation, that the early concept of Santa Claus came to be. The subject of Saint Nicholas had become unpopular, but someone needed to deliver gifts during this occasion.
In England he was known as ‘Father Christmas’ or ‘Old Man Christmas’, in France he was known as 'Père Nöel'. He would be known as Kris Kringle in the early USA and would later be called ‘Santa Claus’ when Dutch immigrants came to the USA and would combine Kris Kringle with Saint Nicholas, thus coming up with the word ‘Sinterklass’ or as we know him today - ‘Santa Claus’. (4)
Mistletoe
Enjoy kissing someone under the Mistletoe? The concept of hanging Mistletoe was first undertaken during the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later it would symbolize marriage.
The Mistletoe was said to promote fertility and even life-giving power.
In Nordic culture, it would be considered a peace-plant that ceased all conflict - or even for couples to kiss under to cease hostilities. Later, in eighteenth century England, it would have a certain magical appeal and be called a kissing ball.
Today, kissing under Mistletoe is done mostly by couples married to symbolize their continued love for each other or an unmarried couple’s symbol that they are not only lovers, but in the hopes that they will one day be married.
Conclusion
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, you can still be merry for the holidays in knowing that these holidays have such a rich and vibrant history.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a Happy Holiday, and of course, peace and goodwill unto all.
What do you think of the history of Christmas traditions? Let us know below.
