Christians
celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a
spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular
customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church,
sharing meals with family and friends and of course, waiting for Santa Claus to
arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United
States since 1870.
An Ancient
Holiday
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 in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the
winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could
look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
In
Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice,
through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons
would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would
feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse
believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would
be born during the coming year.
The end of
December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that
time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed
during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a
supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was
finally fermented and ready for drinking.
In
Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday.
Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights
through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or
perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.
Saturnalia
In Rome,
where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday
in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the
week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month,
Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the
normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would
become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were
closed so that everyone could join in the fun.
Also
around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast
honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often
celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on
December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock.
For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.
In the early
years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not
celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the
birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for
his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of
the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have
occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of
winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the
church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the
pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom
spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the
end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way
to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is
celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or
Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally
found Jesus in the manger.
By holding
Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church
leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but
gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages,
Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas,
believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken,
carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or
student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants
played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich
and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their
visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the
time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined
"debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.
An Outlaw
Christmas
In the
early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was
celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over
England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their
effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the
throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.
The
pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more
orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not
a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was
actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined
five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith
reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.
After the
American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In
fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under
America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until
June 26, 1870.
Irving
Reinvents Christmas
It wasn't
until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans
re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a
family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked
American interest in the holiday?
The early
19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time,
unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often
occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council
instituted the city's first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This
catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way
Christmas was celebrated in America.
In 1819,
best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon,
gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English
manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his
home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society,
the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving's mind, Christmas should be a
peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth
or social status. Irving's fictitious celebrants enjoyed "ancient
customs," including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving's book,
however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended – in fact,
many historians say that Irving's account actually "invented"
tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.
Christmas
Facts
Each year,
30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There
are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow
for about 15 years before they are sold.
Today, in
the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after
the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is
the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the
manger.
In the
Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today's
Mardi Gras parties.
From 1659
to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers
were fined five shillings.
Christmas
wasn't a holiday in early America—in fact Congress was in session on December
25, 1789, the country's first Christmas under the new constitution.
Christmas
was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
The first
eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607
Jamestown settlement.
Poinsettia
plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who
brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
The
Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the
streets since the 1890s.
Rudolph,
"the most famous reindeer of all," was the product of Robert L. May's
imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help
lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
Construction
workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
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