Christmas is one of the most popular and widely celebrated holidays around the world. Marked by festive decorations, family gatherings, gift-giving and various traditions, Christmas is enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike. But where exactly did the traditions and celebrations around Christmas originate?
The History of Christmas
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered the son of God in Christianity. However, the actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown. The Bible does not specify a date for his birth. In the early years of Christianity, there was significant debate around when to celebrate Jesus’ birth, with possibilities ranging from May to April.
It was not until the 4th century that Pope Julius I officially chose December 25 as the date to celebrate Jesus’ birth. This coincided with the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. Choosing this date allowed the Church to introduce a Christian religious celebration into existing winter solstice celebrations such as Saturnalia, a Roman festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn.
By the High Middle Ages, Christmas had become the most important Christian festival. The traditions and customs associated with Christmas evolved over time, blending Christian, secular and pagan influences.
Early Christmas Traditions
Some of the early traditions associated with Christmas include:
- Gift giving – This was influenced by the gifts of the Biblical Magi to the baby Jesus. It also stemmed from Roman customs of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Day.
- Christmas feasts – Lavish Christmas feasts were held by the wealthy, continuing earlier Roman winter solstice traditions of hearty meals and revelry.
- Yule logs – Originating from Germanic pagan traditions, houses would have a large log burnt in the hearth for the entire 12 days of Christmas.
- Caroling – Wandering musicians would travel to wealthy homes singing songs for food or money, which evolved into caroling.
- Nativity scenes – The nativity or birth of Jesus became an important part of telling the Christmas story. Saint Francis of Assisi introduced the first nativity scene in 1223 after visiting the Holy Land.
- Christmas trees – Evergreen plants and trees held special meaning in winter for pagans as symbols of life amid the dark and cold. The Christmas tree tradition has origins in Germany.
Origins of Common Christmas Traditions
Many popular Christmas traditions have origins before Christianity or from non-religious winter celebrations such as:
Christmas Cards
The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in England in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist John Calcott Horsley to create holiday cards to sell. The popularity of sending cards grew as improvements in printing reduced the cost of card production.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is an ancient symbol of vitality as it remains green even during winter. It was considered sacred by Celtic Druids. Over time, mistletoe became associated with Christmas celebrations. The tradition of kissing under mistletoe comes from 18th century England.
Christmas Stockings
There are a few origins to the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings by the fireplace for Santa Claus to fill with gifts. One legend dates to third century France when Nicholas gave bags of gold to a poor family to use as dowries. The gold was tossed through an open window and landed in the daughters’ stockings hung by the fire to dry.
Candy Canes
Candy canes were originally straight white sticks of candy used to decorate Christmas trees. A German choirmaster in the 17th century is said to have bent the sticks into the shape of a shepherd’s staff and flavored them with mint.
Christmas Lights
The tradition of stringing up Christmas lights comes from Germany in the 18th century when families lit candles on their Christmas trees, a practice brought over to America by German settlers. Edward Hibberd Johnson displayed the first electrically illuminated Christmas tree in 1882.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was invented for a promotion by the Montgomery Ward department store in 1939. Writer Robert L. May created the character for a coloring book given to children by the store. Rudolph became widely known after singer Gene Autry recorded the song in 1949.
Christmas Traditions Around the World
Christmas traditions often reflect the cultures of countries. Here are some interesting Christmas customs around the world:
| Country | Christmas Tradition |
|---|---|
| Australia | Outdoor Christmas parties and barbecues are common to celebrate the warmer weather in the Southern Hemisphere’s summer season. |
| Canada | Many Canadians open presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. |
| China | Christians in China light their houses with colorful paper lanterns at Christmastime. |
| Greece | Boats are decorated with lights to represent the journey of Mary and Joseph across the Nile to Bethlehem. |
| Iceland | 13 mischievous troll characters, called the Yule Lads, arrive one at a time in the 13 days leading up to Christmas. |
| Japan | Christmas is seen as a romantic day for couples to exchange gifts and have dinner together. |
| Norway | Norwegians hide brooms on Christmas Eve to prevent witches and evil spirits from flying around on Christmas Eve. |
Key Points About the Origins of Christmas
In summary, key points about the origins and development of Christmas traditions include:
- December 25 was chosen as Jesus’ birth date in the 4th century, coinciding with pagan winter solstice festivals.
- The earliest Christmas traditions blended Christian theology with non-Christian practices.
- Many popular Christmas customs have secular, pagan or European pre-Christian origins.
- Santa Claus originated from the gift-giving figure of St. Nicholas combined with Norse mythology.
- Christmas traditions reflect the histories, cultures and climates of diverse countries.
- Christmas took on its modern form and popularity during the Victoria era in the mid-19th century.
Conclusion
Christmas has become a major, beloved holiday by mixing Christian doctrine with pagan, ancient winter solstice traditions. Over centuries, Christmas customs have grown, crossed borders and become ingrained parts of winter holiday celebrations. While its religious significance varies by country, the joyous spirit of Christmas has spread to diverse cultures and faiths around the world.