Christmas is a time of joy and celebration all around the world. It is celebrated on 25th December all around the world. It is considered a cultural and commercial phenomenon and is celebrated by people from all walks of life. The Christian festival is renowned for the birth of Jesus. Earlier, Christmas was named Yule which was derived from the Germanic Norse mythology. It referred to the feast of the Winter solstice which since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays a pivotal role. Here is how Christmas started and became a part of Christianity.
How did Christmas start: Years before Jesus Christ was born, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest of the days. The middle of the winter was considered to be a time of celebration in central Europe due to various reasons. In Scandinavian region, the Norse started their winter celebration on 21st December which carried on for an undecided time. The people used to hoard big logs to keep themselves warm during the coldest days of the year.Similarly, in Germany, people honoured their pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holidays by staying at home. In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. This developed into a common time of celebration around central Europe which was then manifested by the Christians and church by declaring 25th December as the day Jesus was born.
Did Jesus take birth on Christmas day: In the early days of Christianity, Jesus’ birthday was not celebrated. Instead, the main holiday was Easter. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. However, the Bible does not explicitly mention his birth date. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.
Christmas cancelled in the 17th century: The way of celebrating Christmas was heavily changed in the European region, during the early 17th century. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.
Reinvention of Christmas: It took Americans 2 century to finally embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centred day of peace and nostalgia.
Christmas Carol: Widely popular author Charles Dickens created a classic holiday tale, A Chrisman Carol. The story’s message-the importance of charity and goodwill towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.
How did Santa Claus come in the picture: The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around 280 A.D.. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors.
