Christmas is a contraction for christs mass, originally a roman catholic observance. Christmas during the middle ages was a public festival that incorporated ivy, holly, and other evergreens. What is the real origin of santa clausmistletoechristmas treesholly wreathsand the custom of exchanging gifts. The most prominent contribution was the carol, which by the 14th century had become associated with the religious observance of the birth of christ. All of this is supposedly centered around the worship of christ. In this lesson, learn about the history of this holiday and how the celebrations have changed throughout the years. Here, he arrives by steamboat in the netherlands, nov. The girls name was mary and she was engaged to marry joseph. Christmas is celebrated on december 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. Lets avoid all assumptions and only accept what can be proven. Origin of christmas the history of christmas and how it. The history of christmas, however, is hardly a continuum. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christmas is a religious holiday celebrating the birth of jesus as well as a cultural and commercial event.
On this christmas eve, i thought i would share with you one of my earliest publications. Dec 23, 2011 the story of the wwi christmas truce it has become a great legend of world war i. A collection of christmas facts activity director today. Its no blasphemy to declare that the december holiday season has once again become a pagan celebration. Christmas unwrapped is a delightful history of the holiday from pagan times to the present, along with the origins of several christmas customs. A history of christmas in america voice of america.
In one sense christmas is christ, but in another sense it is santa claus. Many are concerned about putting christ back into christmas. These trees are decorated with ribbons, ornaments, stars, lights, etc. Christmas is thought by most to be a wonderful time, focusing the participants on giving, family togetherness, beautiful music and decorations, feasting on special foods and singing christmas carols throughout the neighborhood as my family did every year. The history of christmas in america voice of america. Christmas day, on december 25, is one of the latest of the feasts commemorative of jesus christ instituted by the church, for. We can be like the angels by telling others the real story of christmas.
The history of christmas 85 y the origins of christmas collegeville, mn. The story of the wwi christmas truce history smithsonian. Mar 11, 2020 christians have no obligation to observe christmas, either from its religious side or its secular side. Christmas day 54 federal holidays however, buy trees that have already been cut and are sold from christmas tree lots on street corners or in shop ping areas. The history of christmas the history of christmas dates back over 4000 years. May the light that shone that night brighten our days and dispel the darkness of our nights again this christmas time. As the fall holidays slide seamlessly into christmas, whats left is a homogenous holiday season thats hard to wrap my head around. Even the early history of the christmas tree in america reflects this focus on children and giftgiving. Christians celebrate christmas day as the anniversary of the birth of jesus. Christmas or feast of the nativity 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 history of christmas how the world celebrate december 25th. The history of christmas psychic readings by jennifer. The story of the wwi christmas truce it has become a great legend of world war i.
After a christmas carol, charles dickens wrote several other christmas stories, one each year, but none was as successful as the original. A brief history of christmas family christmas online. While in paris he saw sugar almonds sold wrapped in tissue paper and he invented the christmas cracker. In the history of christmas the american revolution has played a major part. Dec 29, 2003 woe to any who choose to keep the story in a parttold obscurity so remote as to be false. Origin of christmas the history of christmas and how it began. My thirdird observation is that since christmas is an american holiday, a christian can participate in it in a way consistent with the word of god and his own conscience. Dec 24, 2014 on this christmas eve, i thought i would share with you one of my earliest publications. The true origin of christmas restored church of god. Dec 24, 2018 a history of christmas in america december 24, 2018 santa claus waves to the crowd during the 92nd macys thanksgiving day parade in manhattan, new york, u. Christmas is a time to celebrate, give and receive gifts, eat lots of favorite food and most importantly to commemorate the birth of jesus christ.
Christmas crackers were invented in 1847 by a confectioner named tom smith. At christmas we celebrate the birth of jesus christ. From taking a look into the history of the holiday and different customs from around the world, we found some very interesting information. Learn all about the history and meaning of christmas. Feb 22, 2010 christmas trees every year at christmas, families put up christmas trees. The trees are brought home, set up in the liv ing room, and decorated with lights, ornaments, tinsel, and a. History of christmas what does the word christmas mean. Aspects of the antebellum christmas tim crumrin, by 1860 many of the elements of our modern traditional christmas were easily discernible. Point to the pictures of these people, who were part of the nativity story.
Jesus christ is believed to be the savior of the world according to. Many of the yuletime traditions we observe actually date back to before christmas. Christians have no obligation to observe christmas, either from its religious side or its secular side. The information here may be out of date andor incomplete. This was originally written for an sca yule class, meant to address the secular celebratory rituals of december 25th before the 5th century. There was a lot of turmoil during this period as a result of which many festivals died out without any recognition, including christmas. It predates jesus by at least 2000 years, the biblical account of. A history of christmas in america december 24, 2018 santa claus waves to the crowd during the 92nd macys thanksgiving day parade. Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.
They then give it a go against a modern military kevlar vest. A brief history of the christmas controversy pacific. It is a period which forms a distinct portion of the liturgical year, as distinct, by its own special spirit, from every other, as are advent, lent, easter, or pentecost. The word xmas is sometimes used instead of christmas. December 25 has become widely accepted as the date of jesus birth. The origin of christmas presents in prechristian rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the saturnalia in december and kalends in january. The christmas story long ago, about 2000 years, when king herod ruled judea now part of israel, god sent the angel gabriel to a young women who lived in the northern town of nazareth. Still, christmas was not even a legal holiday until the 1800s. Most of the things that make up a traditional english christmas were actually invented or imported into england from other countries in the 19th century.
It was only after the congress came in session, in december 25, 1789,that the americans began to celebrate christmas. The history of christmas by jason bellows 22 december 2005. Many of the most popular christmas customs including christmas trees, mistletoe, christmas presents, and santa claus are modern incarnations of the most depraved pagan rituals ever practiced on earth. No holiday has a richer and more varied tradition than christmas. But what really happened when british and german troops emerged from their trenches that christmas day. A few ghosts melted his anti christmas resolve, and he turned coat. In ancient pagan times, the last day of winter in the northern hemisphere was celebrated as the night that the great mother goddess gives birth to the baby sun. Pagan origin in 1990, the solon, ohio a cleveland suburb school board banned all nativity and other christmas scenes on any school property because they felt it violated the separation of church and state. Almost everyone, no matter their religious affiliations, wi. Santa claus how the legend of saint nicholas became todays santa claus with his long and interesting journey explained.
Fun things about christmas there is more to christmas that meets the eye. History, mystery and the christmas story the presbyterian. For many people, christmas is an exciting and magical time of year. Cullman points out that the source from which this information was taken has been redated and was written before october a. The actual birthdate of jesus is unknown and as such the church officials choose the date of an already popular holiday, saturnalia. Why do we celebrate christmas the way we do and how do others celebrate the holiday. That includes christmas trees, christmas cards, christmas crackers, paper decorations and, of course, father christmas or santa claus with his white beard and red costume. Learn about the history of christmas, santa claus, and holiday traditions worldwide. In italy, a tradition developed for reenacting the birth of christ and the construction of scenes of the nativity. Are they to be placed in the same mental file with the legends of king arthur or are they. By the 1860s christmas cards were very popular in england. Christmas trees every year at christmas, families put up christmas trees. Luke joins jason once more to test out the war bow against a piece of reproduction armour. It is also called yule, the day a huge log is added to a bonfire, around which everyone would dance and sing to awaken the sun from its long winter sleep.
Mithras bore a remarkable however pagan similarity to the biblical messiah and the mithras feast, like christmas, was to commemorate his mithras birth. It does not address any religious or sacred issues. And, keep in mind, there was no father christmas santa claus figure at that time. Today, christmas celebrations are so much a part of western culture, and even our economy, that it may be hard to believe that christmas wasnt always celebrated by. Later, this ritual expanded to include giftgiving among the general populace. Did you know that christians in the first three centuries of the church did not celebrate christmas. Bailey is an author and lecturer in middle eastern new testament studies living in new wilmington, pa. The history of christmas trees goes back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient egypt and rome and continues with the german tradition of candlelit christmas. The truth about christmas by ferrell jenkins evangelist citrus park church of christ tampa, fl. The history of christmas is nothing like you would expect.
In the scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on jesus birthday. We can be like the shepherds and wise men by following jesus christ. Although some customs found during the antebellum era have long. In ancient pagan times, the last day of winter in the northern hemisphere was celebrated as the night that the great mother goddess gives birth to the baby sun god. Saturnalia was a roman holiday that was dedicated to saturn, the roman god of agriculture. Jesus christ is believed to be the savior of the world according to the christians that is the origin of the name. The invention of the american christmas 17531861 nova parks. The grinch looked sinister, but alas, he was on the very cusp of pulling off a remarkable christmas caper when his tiny heart was swelled by a song.
Christmas has also become a secular family holiday that is observed by christians and nonchristians, is marked by the exchange of gifts, and features the mythical figure of santa claus. The popularity of christmas was spurred on in 1820 by washington irvings book the keeping of christmas at bracebridge hall. Christmas giftgiving during the middle ages was usually between people with legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord. A brief history of christmas this article is not about the actual birth of jesus, the founder of christianity, but about the midwinter celebrations of his birth, which have waxed and waned over the centuries since. Many of our christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the christ child was born. Davis edited by avram yehoshua the if we were to ask several people the meaning of christmas, 80% of them would say, the birthday of christ, of course. It was designed to compete with the pagan roman feast of saturnalia in honor of the sun deity mithras. The first one was designed in 1843 by john horsley.
He begins with an insightful survey of the nativity narratives in matthew and luke. Christmas began to be celebrated during the 3rd century in europe after church officials appointed december 25th jesus of nazareths birthday. The history of christmas the tribune papers breaking. Saturnalia was a roman holiday that was dedicated to saturn, the roman god of agriculture and the harvest. Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church. The grinch looked sinister, but alas, he was on the very cusp of pulling off a remarkable. The word christmas comes from the old english cristes maesse, which means christs mass. Christmas, christian festival celebrating the birth of jesus. The american journal of theology volume iii january, 1899 number i the history of christmas. Dating back to as early as the th century, christmas carols have become an integral part of our annual holiday celebrations. We can be like mary and joseph by doing what god wants us to do. As the battle for christmas admits, there were always people for whom christmas was a time of pious devotion rather than carnival, but such people were always in the minority. Alabama was the first state to recognize christmas as an official holiday.
Wise men from afar, angel visitors to shepherds in the night, a child cradled in a manger through what lens shall these stories be viewed. George grantham bain collection, library of congress. We apply the name of christmas to the forty days which begin with the nativity of our lord, december 25, and end with the purification of the blessed virgin, february 2. A few ghosts melted his antichristmas resolve, and he turned coat. The history of christmas in america december 21, 2014 dutch immigrants in new york in the 19th century celebrated the feast of saint nicholas. Dec 21, 2014 the history of christmas in america december 21, 2014 dutch immigrants in new york in the 19th century celebrated the feast of saint nicholas. Most of the others would say, the day we celebrate the birthday of christ, since we really dont know just when he was born. A history of christmas from the nativity to the nineties comfort, david on. Many who are excitedly preparing for their christmas celebrations would prefer not knowing about the holidays real significance. A lot of people would probably say the birth of christ, coinciding it with the idea of the nativity. Over the centuries, classic christmas traditions would accumulate. The origins of christmas and the date of christs birth 301 and enduring. From the birth of christ to how we arrived at todays christmas traditions. A history of christmas from the nativity to the nineties.