Hello, my lovely readers!
Christmas is around the corner and I stumbled across an interesting documentary on the story of Christmas and the traditions of this Christian feast. I got into further research on this topic. Let's get started, shall we!
P.S. While you are reading this, you might want to listen to this beautiful Christmas song by Händel.
Similarity and association to concurrent celebrations
Winter festivals—like the winter solstice—were the most popular of the year in many European pagan cultures through the early Christian centuries. Many modern Christmas customs have been directly influenced by these festivals, including gift-giving and merrymaking from the Roman Saturnalia, greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year, and Yule logs and various foods from Germanic feasts. "The birthday of the Unconquered Sun"(Sol Invictus) is a festival inaugurated by the Roman emperor Aurelian to celebrate the sun god and it was celebrated at the winter solstice, on 25th of December. During the reign of the emperor Constantine the Christian writer Irenaeus identified in his work 'Adversus Haereses' (c. 130–202) the conception of Jesus as March 25 and linked it to the crucifixion, with the birth of Jesus nine months after on December 25. The Celebration of the conception of Jesus, known as the Annunciation, became associated with the spring equinox. Thus, led to Christmas being concurrent with the winter solstice. The Chronography of 354 (also known as the Calendar of 354) was a 4th-century (produced in 354 AD) illuminated manuscript, which was produced for a wealthy Roman Christian named Valentinus. The reason why this is important is that it is the earliest mention of the celebration of Christmas as a holiday or feast.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
By the Middle Ages, Christianity had largely replaced the old, pagan religions of Europe. On December 25th, the faithful were called to cathedrals for Christ's mass, which was soon after called Christmas. But out in the streets the holiday was still not religious, at least not before the 18th century. For instance, Christmas in England was more like a carnival. For beggars and peasants, this was the time of the year when they could seize power from prosperous people. They would go around to the houses of the rich and demand entry. Furthermore, they had to be given the lord's best goods, but if they didn't the peasants would perform a trick on them.
Reformation to the 18th century
Following the Protestant Reformation, many of the new confessions of faith, including the Anglican Church and Lutheran Church, continued to celebrate Christmas. However, in early 17th century England, some groups such as the Puritans, strongly condemned the celebration of Christmas, considering it a Catholic invention and the "trappings of popery". In contrast, the established Anglican Church pressed for a more exact observance of feasts, remorseful seasons, and saints’ days. The Catholic Church also responded, promoting the festival in a more religiously oriented form.
Remember Oliver Cromwell? Well, with Cromwell as the head of the Puritans, they banned Christmas in 1652 in England. The Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 ended the ban. Protestants censured the celebration of Christmas in Colonial America. Celebration was outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. The ban by the Pilgrims was abolished in 1681; however it was not until the mid-19th century that celebrating Christmas became fashionable in the Boston region. At the same time, Christian residents of Virginia and New York celebrated the holiday freely. The Moravians in Bethlehem had the first Christmas trees in America as well as the first Nativity Scenes. Christmas fell out of favour in the United States after the American Revolution, when it was considered an English rite. As the people in America were hard-working, they decided to invent a holiday for themselves since they didn't have any anymore.
O Tannenbaum
We are at the dawn of the 19th century when America invented its very own Christmas, pulling the new nation together. “But it would not be the carnival Christmas of old England nor would it be particularly religious and in this process it would reinvent it for the whole world.”
With the earliest stages of industrial capitalism class conflicts started arising. By the 1820s Christmas in New York was a time of gang rioting; a time when New York's upper class was worried to the extent that a few of them set out to change the way Christmas was celebrated. One of those gentlemen was Charles Dickens, an English writer and social critic. In 1843, Dicken's tackled the Christmas problem with his novella 'A Christmas Carol'. This conversion story was very important for the Victorians, because at this stage people needed to be reminded that family and charity could not be ignored at Christmas time. Finally, after 200 years of drouth due to the Puritan disapproval 19th century Americans were discovering Christmas again. But the holiday would never have taken hold if society was not ready for it.
However, the Christmas tree has its roots in Germany. As we remember from the top of the story, decorated evergreens were always a part of the winter celebrations, so it was a perfect tradition for reviving. But the tree might have stayed there if not for the royal marriage in 1840 of Victoria, the Queen of England, to Prince Albert of Germany. The Prince brought his German ways to Windsor Palace including the annual Christmas tree. In 1848 'The Illustrated London News' published an engraving of the Royal Family standing by the first Christmas tree most English had ever seen. It didn’t take long for people to accept a decorated tree and put one up at Christmas. In America it was adopted just as quickly as in Britain. All of a sudden Christmas traditions seemed to pop up everywhere, causing plants (Poinsettia) and cards to become sensations. With church services, mistletoes and Christmas trees America’s holiday now seemed firmly in place. But Victorian America had one last contribution to the season – “a jolly elf who shimmied down the chimney would soon personify Christmas for generations to come”.
Ol' Saint Nick
This Christmas icon was developed in America - Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas’ name can be traced to the Dutch Sinterklaas. Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey. He was known for generosity and giving of gifts, especially to children. On December 6, he is celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts. 'A Visit from St. Nicholas' by the minister Clement Clarke Moore is largely responsible for the conception of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century till today, including his physical appearance, the night of his visit, his mode of transportation, the number and names of his reindeer, and the tradition that he brings toys to children.
I'll be home for Christmas
By the 1950s Christmas was a time to be with the Family. All would come together and decorate their trees and homes, sing carols*, drink eggnog and put loads of presents under their trees. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In 15 century London it was usual for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holms, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green". Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. The display of nativity scenes (known from 10th-century Rome) has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. Outside of the houses people decorated their exteriors with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. For Christians participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.
*Fun fact: In Austria in 1818 Mohr and Gruber made a major addition to Christmas carolling when they composed 'Silent Night' for the St. Nicholas Church, Oberndorf.
I hope you enjoyed reading my interpretation of the story of Christmas, and maybe I got you interested in this topic so you will research for yourself a little more. As to your preference I recommend reading or watching 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. I feel that movies such as Disney's 'A Christmas Carol' sum up very well what Christmas should really be about. Well, now that I have unwrapped the long history of Christmas to all I would like to conclude by wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
All Sources:
· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSQYX-OB1Rshttp://www.american-buddha.com/lit.christmasunwrapped.htm
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