The Chronicles Of Christmas

Christmas 

A Festival

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Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. 

The origins of Christmas stem from both Pagan and Roman cultures. The Romans actually celebrated two holidays in the month of December. The first was Saturnalia, which was a two-week festival honoring their god of agriculture Saturn. On December 25th they celebrate the birth of Mithra, their sun god. Both celebrations were raucous and drunken parties.

As per the Pagan cultures in December, in which the darkest day of the year falls, they lit bonfires and candles to keep the darkness at bay. The Romans also incorporated this tradition into their own celebrations.

When the Christianity spread across the Europe, the Christian clergy were not able to control the Pagan customs and celebrations. So far as no one knows Jesus's date of birth, they adapted the Pagan rituals into a celebration of Jesus Christ.

CHRISTMAS TREE

Even though there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of Christmas Tree, it appears that for trees decorated with apples were first known at Strasbourg in 1605. The first use of Candles on such trees is recorded by Silesian Duchess in 1611. 

As part of the solstice celebrations, the pagan cultures decorated their homes with greens in anticipation of the spring to come. Evergreen trees remained green during the coldest and darkest days, so they were thought to hold special powers. The Romans also decorated their temples with fir trees during Saturnalia and decorated them with bits of metal. There are even records of the Greeks decorating trees in honor of their gods. Interestingly, the first trees brought into the pagan homes were hung from the ceiling, upside down.

The tree tradition we are accustomed to today hails from Northern Europe, where Germanic pagan tribes decorated evergreen trees in worship of the god Woden with candles and dried fruit. 

SANTA CLAUS

Inspired by St. Nicholas, this Christmas tradition has Christian roots, rather than pagan ones. Born in southern Turkey around 280, he was a bishop in the early Christian church and suffered persecution and imprisonment for his faith. Coming from a wealthy family, he was renowned for his generosity towards the poor and disenfranchised. The legends surrounding him abound, but the most famous is how he saved three daughters from being sold into slavery. 

There was no dowry to entice a man to marry them, so it was their father’s last resort. St. Nicholas is said to have tossed gold through an open window into the home, thus saving them from their fate. Legend has it that the gold landed in a sock drying by the fire, so children started hanging stockings by their fires in hopes St. Nicholas would toss gifts into them.

In honor of his passing, December 6th was declared St. Nicholas day. As time went on, each European culture adapted versions of St. Nicholas. In Swiss and German cultures, Christkind or Kris Kringle (Christ child) accompanied St. Nicholas to deliver presents to well-behaved children. Jultomten was a happy elf delivering gifts via a sleigh drawn by goats in Sweden. Then there was Father Christmas in England and Pere Noel in France. In the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Lorraine, France, and parts of Germany, he was known as Sinter Klaas.

A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

After the civil war, the country was looking for ways to look past difference and become united as a country. In 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant declared it a federal holiday. And while Christmas traditions have adapted with time, I think Washington Irving’s desire for unity in celebration lives on. It’s become a time of year where we wish others well, donate to our favorite charities, and give presents with a joyful spirit.

CONCLUSION 

The history of Christmas is a rich tapestry woven from diverse cultural, religious, and historical threads. Originating from ancient winter solstice celebrations and pagan festivals like Saturnalia, Christmas was later imbued with Christian significance to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Over the centuries, it evolved through the amalgamation of various traditions, such as the Germanic Yule and the British influence on customs like caroling and the Christmas tree. By the 19th century, figures like Santa Claus, inspired by St. Nicholas and popularized through literature and media, became central to the holiday. 

Today, Christmas is celebrated worldwide with a blend of religious reverence, cultural practices, and a spirit of goodwill and generosity. This holiday continues to adapt, reflecting the dynamic interplay between its historical roots and contemporary influences.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

So, where ever you may be, and whatever traditions you follow, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of holidays!

                                                                                      

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