When did the celebration of Christmas begin?
Christmas as we know it, is actually the blending of the traditions of various cultures that have come together to create the familiar celebration, that is so eagerly anticipated each year. It is believed to have begun in the third century, when the Greek bishop Nicholas started a custom he called "Children's Day," one day of the year set aside to honor the young by giving them parties, presents and a variety of treats. Upon his death, Nicholas was made a saint by the Greek church, and the day became an annual celebration, which continues to this day, though in earlier times it may have been celebrated earlier in December. The Roman's banned the holiday for a time, but the legend of Saint Nicholas' work could not be contained, spreading to the Celtic tribes of Northern Europe. It is the Scandinavians who gave him his new and familiar home at the North Pole, a place they considered to be of strength and safety. Also, though the Christian Bible shows Jesus' birth to actually have been sometime in late August, the church has long commemorated the day on December 25 th greatly adding to the significance of the day.
How did Saint Nicholas become Santa Clause?
The name Saint Nicholas evolved through the years into Saint Nick-Claus to the Dutch Sinter Klaas, and ultimately to Santa Claus. It was the great American writer Washington Irving who gave Americans the first detailed account of the Dutch version of Santa Clause in his "History of New York," published in 1809. Some years later, in 1823, Clement Clark Moore penned "The Night Before Christmas, " giving us the names of Santa's reindeer, and introducing elves and a climb down the chimney to distribute presents to the lore. A series of images by illustrator Thomas Nast for Harper's Magazine in the 1860's gave us a visual depiction of Santa as the heavy-set, bearded man we now know.
What is the significance of a Christmas Tree?
In ancient times people believed the season of winter, with its yearly death of foliage and crops, occurred because the sun god had become weak and sick. The evergreen boughs that flourished year-round came to have special significance, and were hung over doors and windows to ward off evil spirits and illness. Across the Mediterranean regions, the winter solstice, which occurs on December 21st and marks the longest night and shortest day of the year, meant that soon farms and trees would be green and plentiful again. To celebrate, evergreen foliage was displayed throughout the dwellings.
Lights on Christmas trees did not appear until the middle of the 17th century in Germany, and then throughout Eastern Europe, and were initially simple taper candles that were pinned or glued to branches of the tree. Later, little lanterns and candleholders appeared. The first time a Christmas tree was lit by electric light was in New York in 1882, by Edward Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison, who fashioned a string of 80 small lights, which began to be produced for others around 1890.
What is a Yule log?
A Yule log is a tradition begun in Great Britain, wherein the central trunk of a very large tree was cut and dragged through the forest by one's entire family. It was pulled with ropes, taken into the home, and thrown on the fireplace, where it was meant to burn for all 12 days of Christmas. Many superstitions surrounded the log, such as the notion that it had to be lit on the very first try, or bad luck would follow. Likewise, charcoal from the great fire had to be kept underneath the beds of all family members, or people feared their house might be struck by lightning.
When did candy canes first appear?
Candy canes, which were traditionally all white in color, began to appear as early as 350 years ago, when candy makers were experimenting with creating the sugar sticks. In the 17th century, when Europeans began using Christmas trees as part of their holiday celebration, a candy maker bent the sticks into canes representing shepherds' staffs, and enabling them to be hung from trees. The first candy canes in America are documented as appearing on the tree of a German immigrant in Ohio around 1847. Interestingly, candy canes, even in America, were all white in color until the year 1900. At that time, an unknown candy maker introduced red stripes, and many others began adding mint flavoring, creating the familiar treat we know today. There is no known American Christmas card to feature striped candy canes prior to 1900, but, of course, many to feature them after that year.
Christmas Trivia
Artificial Christmas trees began appearing in the late 1800's in Germany, and were metal wire trees covered with goose, turkey or ostrich feathers.
The origin of Mistletoe as a plant associated with peace and love dates back to Scandinavian tradition, which required even enemies who came upon the plant by chance in the forest, to put down their arms until the next day.
Rudolph, Santa's ninth reindeer with the familiar beacon red nose, was actually invented by an advertising writer for the Montgomery Ward Company in 1939.