History of Christmas

We are all told that Christmas is Jesus Christ’s birthday and that’s why Christians celebrate that day. The truth is that no one knows exactly when Jesus Christ was born. The reason that December 25 was chosen had a lot to do with celebrations that took place long before Christ’s birth. Apparently, the origins go all the way back to ancient times. It seems a LOT of people had Christmas-like holidays.

Pre-Christmas Background

Ancient pagans (in this case meaning people who believe in more than one god) thought that on the last night of winter, the "Great Mother Goddess" gave birth to the Sun God. Every year he would go to sleep, bringing about winter. To wake him, people held a festival called Yule. They would put a large log on a bonfire, sing, and dance.

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival honoring Saturnus (the god of harvest) and Mithras (the ancient god of light). Saturnalia was to celebrate the end of winter and the promise of a bountiful harvest during the upcoming season. This happened between December 17 and 24. Early Christians feared that the pagan Romans would persecute them during this time, so they put up Saturnalia holly. As more and more people became Christians, it soon became a tradition.

To the Romans, Saturnalia was more than just a festival around a fire. This was a time of great peace and compassion. No wars could be declared during this time. This was the only time of the year where slaves and masters took meals together. They gave presents to friends, family, and neighbors as part of the celebration.

As Christians would get together to decorate, they started participating in customs similar to the Romans. They, too, began a tradition of peace and brotherhood during Saturnalia. This is most likely when the first Christian gift exchanges and feasts occurred.

While Christians did celebrate this holiday season, they were not yet celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Between 125 and 136 AD, the Bishop of Rome said that "the Nativity of our Lord and Savior" should be honored with special church services. Only one problem remained – no one knew exactly when to celebrate. Some celebrated during the traditional Saturnalia dates. Others celebrated in September during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets.

Not long before his death in 275 AD, the Roman Emperor declared that the solstice be celebrated with a festival. On that year, the solstice fell on December 25th. He called this the "birth of the invincible sun". It was not until 320 AD that Pope Julius I declared December 25 to be the official birthday of Jesus Christ – the birth of the invincible son. In 325 AD, Constantine the Great (the first emperor to become Christian), declared December 25 to be Christmas. It showed up on Roman calendars in 336 AD.

So now that a pope and an emperor declared this date to be Christ’s birthday, it would be celebrated, right? Not exactly. Because December 25 was also the day that the pagan Romans honored various gods, Christians didn’t want to celebrate then. In 354, the Bishop of Rome actually had to order Christians to celebrate Christmas.

Still, Christmas wasn’t a universally celebrated holiday among Christians. It did grow in popularity until the Reformation in the 1500’s. Later, Christmas even became illegal in many places including England and parts of the American colonies. People did celebrate again, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that Christmas became a widely honored holiday among Christians.

In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the US to declare Christmas an official holiday. Oklahoma was the last state to follow, in 1907.

The Origin of Christmas Trees

There are several different theories revolving around the beginnings of Christmas trees. Many think this custom, too, goes back to ancient times. Some think that the Yule log was brought into a village as the whole tree. The tree may have been decorated until it began to die, at which point it became the log to be burned in the traditional fire. Others think that the Christmas tree simply came from the evergreens many cultures used as decoration. Egyptians, Romans, and even the Druids put up evergreen boughs to celebrate the end of winter. They put these things in and on their homes to remind each other that soon everything would be growing again.

Another theory is that the evergreen’s shape provided its special Christian significance. According to legend, in around the 7th century AD, a monk went to Germany to spread Christianity. He used the triangular shape of the evergreen tree to show the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Soon the Germans thought of the evergreen as "the God tree".

However the evergreen trees became Christian symbols, people at some point decided to bring them into their homes. Oddly enough, they hung them upside down from their ceilings. At some point, people decided to turn them right side up and decorate them. Supposedly, even Martin Luther put candles on a Christmas tree to symbolize the stars in the sky during the trip to Bethlehem. The idea stuck, and other things were added to make the trees more like the tree in the Garden of Eden.

These are the theories behind why we chop down a large tree, bring it into our living room, and decorate it with lights and ornaments. The Christmas lights are said to symbolize the stars, and the Christmas ornaments symbolize the bountiful Paradise Tree.

Christmas Inspired Books, Songs, and Movies

The first literature centered on Christmas was a book by Washington Irving called "The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall" in 1820. This book helped fuel the popularity of Christmas as it described English decorations, traditions, and customs from the point of view of an American. Soon came Clement Moore’s famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1823. Moore wrote the poem for his six children. Somehow, in 1823, his poem was out in public. Since he was a serious scholar, he wasn’t thrilled with a cutesy poem being his claim to fame. He must have reconsidered, though, as he finally published the poem in 1844. The description and imagery in the book of St. Nick brought about clear pictures of Santa for children everywhere. Moore combined the Norwegian legend of a gift-bringer with a German one who entered homes through chimneys. He also said that some of the Santa description came from the pudgy guy driving him home as he wrote the poem.

Meanwhile, in October of 1843, Charles Dickens started writing a book called "A Christmas Carol". A Christmas Carol helped make and keep Christmas popular, but it did more than that. It was the feel-good book of the time. It gave a sentimental and brotherly feel to Christmas. The book is still wildly popular today. The story has been the inspiration for other books, movies, and TV shows. Even the Three Stooges did their take of A Christmas Carol.

More recently, movies about Christmas continue to become blockbusters. The Classics from 1946 and 1947, "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street", are shown every year and have become favorites of multiple generations. In the second half of the 20th century, "A Christmas Story", "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and "The Santa Clause" are promising staples for children of the future. And the movies keep coming.

Besides the traditional Christmas carols that continue to be passed on, every singer and band seems to put out a Christmas CD. Schools have Christmas concerts where children sing and play carols. Some radio stations play nothing but Christmas music around the holiday.

Christmas Shopping

Many people think that gift giving has taken away from the "true" meaning of Christmas. People these days do tend to get a bit carried away at Christmas, but gift giving at this time of year actually predates Christ’s birth. Even after December 25 became the celebration of Jesus’ birthday, it was meant to be a festival including church, feasts, and gift exchange among friends, families, and strangers.

Gift ideas these days range anywhere from family board games to a complete home gym. Does buying treadmills, golf clubs, and cell phones with a camera take away from the true meaning of Christmas? I don’t think so (and not just because I’d like a new cell phone with video messaging this year). As long as Christmastime means family time and includes selfless giving to loved ones and those less fortunate, gifts only add to the spirit of giving and selflessness.

If you think your family has lost the spirit of Christmas, start some traditions together. Find crafts and projects you can do as a family that will become homemade ornaments hung on the tree for years. Make gift baskets from the whole family for neighbors and needy families. Choose one present from your wish list this year to give to someone your age whose family can’t afford presents this year.