When speaking about the early years of the winter holiday celebrations, the true meaning of Christmas focuses on Christianity and the birth of Jesus. It's still enjoyed by spiritual folks who attend church services, sing hymns, and engage in associated ceremonies. Through the decades, however, more and more people have begun to embrace other Christmastime activities. Some are surprised to learn about the origins of many of the traditional aspects did not come from their religion.
Ancient Customs Surrounding December 25th
Choosing a date near the winter solstice made perfect sense for early Christians taking over territory and cultures from pagans, who celebrated the 'return of the sun' on the shortest day of the year. The general timeline also matched Jewish Hanukah, the Roman feast of Brunalia, and birth of Mithras, a Persian god of the sun. All these special days included feasts, gift-giving, decorations, and more. What better time to add Christmas to the mix?
The History of the Christmas Tree
Another winter holiday that influenced early Christmas celebrations was Yule or Jol, a Scandinavian event. Woden, a prominent god in their pantheon, traveled the land giving gifts to people who put up evergreen trees around their homes to repel evil spirits.
In general, these trees that did not succumb to winter like their deciduous counterparts became a symbol of eternal life. This carried through medieval Europe and on to decorations today. The sparkly decorations and hanging sweets like peppermints were popular in Germany and surrounding areas in the 16th century. They became much more widespread in the 1800s and are omnipresent in Christmas decoration schemes today.
Gift-Giving and the Origin of Christmas
For religious people today, the idea behind giving gifts comes directly from their true meaning of Christmas when the wise men visited baby Jesus in the stable. However, it too was an important part of the other religious celebrations outlined above. Romans gave gifts to each other on the solstice, Woden did so to the northerners, and St. Nicholas, a bishop in the Byzantine empire who became the figurehead of Santa Claus later on, was well-known for giving to the poor and needy children.
Secular Christmas Celebrations Enjoyed More
Today, people from all walks of life, countries, and cultures celebrate the winter holiday with many of the non-religious aspects. They put up holiday trees and deck the halls with baubles and tinsel. People give their friends and family members gifts wrapped in brilliant paper and bows.
They embrace the idea of Santa as a mythical fairy-like creature who rewards good boys and girls, and even take part in present swaps under the name Secret Santa at work and school. More often, they simply put their own name on the tags of fun items like new clothes, toys and Nattork roller skates for the kids, and gift cards designed in red, gold, and green.
Knowing the history of Christmas makes the season richer and brighter for many people who celebrate. No matter if you and yours look at it as a religious holiday or a secular celebration of winter, gifts, peace on Earth, and goodwill to all, you can celebrate with joy and togetherness on December 25th.