Christmas Origins and Modern Day Christmas Traditions

The origin of the word: "Christmas" is a word of Catholic origin, meaning a special mass (worship service) for the birth of Christ. In modern time the tradition of "Christmas" has come to mean a time of gift-giving to loved-ones, regardless of one's religious beliefs. It is also a time to spend with loved-ones. Christmas products start going on sale a month and a half before Christmas day. Therefore, the spirit of Christmas begins to be disseminated long before Christmas day. People start putting up colorful lights and Christmas trees as much as a month before Christmas day. So, Christmas has evolved into a whole season, which purposefully coincides with the Yuletide Season.
Who celebrates Christmas? In North America (our focus), it is not just a religious holiday, it is a season of philanthropy and giving, celebrated by all. The original "Christ's Mass" is still done by Catholics all over the world, on December 25th, although religious scholars agree that Christ was not born on December 25th. It should be noted that December 25th was originally the Sun's Birthday, changed by the Pope in conjunction with the Emperor Constantine to the Son's (son of God) birthday. Despite the powers that were and their manipulation of the data, you'd think that somewhere, a tradition would have survived attesting to the Nazarene's actual birth date. Perhaps, it didn't really matter when he was born, so long as there was a celebration thereof. All people, regardless of religious beliefs. It matters not your creed, nor your religion, people enjoy the season as a time of visiting family and of gift-giving.
The word "Yule" was originally a Scandinavian word. In Finnish, it is "Joul". Scholars say that Yule probably means 'feast', and "Yuletide" means the season of feasting. As the name implies, feasting is a major part of Yuletide traditions. Coincidentally, both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are accompanied by huge feasts of a usually a big bird, like a goose (UK) or a turkey (US), possibly ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, stuffing, definitely Christmas cookies and pumpkin pie.
Yuletide comes to us from our Scandinavian ancestors, probably 5,000 years ago. Yuletide lasted for twelve days (in ancient times). The days from December 13th to December 24th were days full of traditions that were instituted to insure the "resurrection" of the sun, as the days became shorter and shorter. The shortest day of the year was December 21. The sun was said to remain "dead" for three days: until the 24. The 25th was the "birthday" of the sun; heralding its "return" to longer and longer days. Some people have called yuletide a form of sun worship, however this has never been proved.
There is a Scandinavian legend which explains mistletoe, which is about the god Baldur (AKA: Balder), that explains the tradition. Odin (king of the gods) and his wife, Frigga, had a son named Baldur. Baldur's mother loved her son so much and was so protective, that she ordered each and every plant, animal and inanimate object to promise not to harm Baldur. However, Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant. There was another god, named Loki, who was somewhat of a trouble-maker. Loki was perhaps jealous of Baldur, but whatever his motivation, he took advantage of the fact that mistletoe was overlooked by Frigga. The mischievous, prankster-god Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. The demise of Baldur, a vegetation deity in the Norse myths, brought winter into the world. The gods did eventually restore Baldur to life (and this may be linked to the birth of the sun on December 25th). After the whole ordeal was over, Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world. That is how the tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe began.
According to Scandinavian tradition, a log is suppose to be kept burning all night long on the eve of the birth of the sun (December 24-25). This is one of the rituals of our ancestors, to insure the "resurrection" of the sun in the sky. It is thought that the reason for this was to re-ignite the sun.
We humans feast for almost any occasion: birthdays, holidays, home-comings, farewells, even funerals. Nearly every major human event is accompanied by feasting. Why a goose (or a turkey)? The goose was the sacred animal and symbol of the Egyptian god, Amen. Amen became the greatest of all the Egyptian gods by Dynasty XVIII and was believed to have been the source of all creation. About 389BC, a flock of geese sacred to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, the gods of Rome, saved the Roman citadel by alerting sleeping Roman defenders to a stealth attack by the Gauls. Had the geese not raised the alarm, the history of the Roman empire might have ended then. The Jewish feast of Chanukah (Hanukkah), also known as the Feast of the Maccabees, is traditionally roast goose. The celebration commemorates the return of the temple in Jerusalem from Syrian to Jewish hands in about 165. Saint Martin of Tours, one of the best known Catholic Saints, is the patron saint against poverty and of, among other things, beggars and geese. Legend has it that he tore his cloak in half in order to give half of it to a beggar, the cloak was later miraculously restored. Later, he hid in a barn full of geese to avoid being made a Bishop, but the geese gave him away with their clamor. He died in about 367. Saint Martin's day is celebrated on November 11, and goose is the traditional fare on that day (Martinmas goose). If you see a painting of Saint Martin, he may well be accompanied by a goose. Though goose is still a popular choice for Christmas dinner in some places, Charles Dickens may have started something new when he had Scrooge (in the Book "A Christmas Carol") give the Cratchits, not a goose, but a turkey. (I serve both goose and turkey on Christmas Day)
The Tradition of making Christmas Cookies, clearly comes from Scandinavia, more especially Finland.
Every year, right after Thanksgiving weekend (or during), Americans decorate the exterior (and interior) of their homes with lights, which stay up until after Christmas day (sometimes until New Year's Day). This probably originated with the festival of lights, which occurred in December of each year.
It seems to be the general consensus that this tradition came from the Roman winter solstice tradition called Saturnalia.
Singing and making merry with wine and song is part of nearly every culture. Currently, in America, Christmas caroling is done by Christian groups as a form of proselyting, or in some cases, just for the sheer joy of it.
The tradition of Christmas caroling for food/drink (as in the traditional carol: "We wish you a merry Christmas") probably comes from the Celtic tradition of Wassailing. Wassailing apparently was the practice of singing to wish fellow farmers well in the upcoming planting season, for which they were rewarded by a cup of wine or alcoholic cider.
Each family has its own traditions for Christmas. Each member of some families is allowed to open one gift on Christmas eve. I prepare a big feast on Christmas day.
There are only a few foods that are particularly associated with Christmas. They are:
- Fruit cake (which, oddly a lot of people [myself included] loathe)
- Sugar cookies (which are cut into shapes of X-mas symbols)
- Figgy pudding (as stated in the X-mas Carol, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
- Goose (turkey, duck, or chicken can be substituted)
- Cranberries

The Christmas origin begins with the predictions of Christ over the many centuries before His birth. The sceptre (a Hebrew symbol of governmental authority) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Hebrew, the "Messiah") come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2). Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (literally, "God-with-us" in Hebrew) (Isaiah 7:14). For unto us a child is born, unto to us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 King James Version of the Holy Bible).

You'll note that the Santa in the picture shown here is drinking a soft drink. That's because the Coca-Cola ® Company commissioned an artist whose name was Haddon Sundblom to create a soda drinking Santa. This was the result and believe it or not that image is sort of the official image of Santa as he is known today.
Santa Claus or St Nick is actually a composite of four figures from centuries past. Let me explain.
Santa is the result of of these historical figures. Joulupukki, An Evil Gnome, was not pleasant and he was used as a device to make children behave. A Finish Prince, Lemminkäinen, was said to have worn red and to have ridden a goat or a buck across the skys and was a kind and generous 'giver'. A Norse God, Thor, (he was known as the Yule Elf) who gave gifts for porridge and who wore red and rode a goat drawn chariot across the skys. The Catholic Bishop, St. Nicholas, (Santa is often called 'St. Nick') was very kind to children and was beatified by the Pope, to become the patron saint of children.

Most people can agree on what Santa Claus looks like now, jolly, with a red suit and a white beard. But he did not always look that way, and Coca-Cola® advertising actually helped shape this modern-day image of Santa.
2006 marked the 75th anniversary of the famous Coca-Cola® Santa Claus. Starting in 1931, magazine ads for the soft drink giant featured St. Nick as a kind, jolly man in a red suit. Because magazines were so widely viewed, and because this image of Santa appeared for more than three decades, the image of Santa most people have today is largely based on this advertising. Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862; Santa was shown as a small elf-like figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years and along the way changed the color of his coat from tan to the now traditional red. Though some people believe the Coca-Cola Santa wears red because that is the Coke® color, the red suit comes from Nast's interpretation of St. Nick.
For inspiration, Sundblom turned to Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (commonly called "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"). Moore's description of St. Nick led to an image of Santa that was warm, friendly, pleasantly plump and human. For the next 33 years, Sundblom painted portraits of Santa that helped to create the modern image of Santa -- an interpretation that today lives on in the minds of people of all ages, all over the world.
People loved the Coca-Cola Santa images and paid such close attention to them, that when anything changed, they sent letters to The Coca-Cola Company. One year, Santa's large belt was backwards (perhaps because artist Haddon Sundblom used himself as a model and painted by looking in a mirror). Another year, Santa Claus appeared without a wedding ring, causing fans to write asking what happened to Mrs. Claus.

The tradition of having and decorating a Christmas Tree is very, very old... at least 2,000 years older than Christ. It dates back approximately four thousand years (according to some scholars). It goes back to the time of a King named Nimrod.
The Torah (Jewish Bible) tells a story of how Nimrod (who was son of Cush, who was son of Ham, who was son of Noah) aspired to build a tower to reach heaven, to stand face to face before his maker(s), and be able to converse with him/them as one person converses with another. This "tower" may have been a rocket.
But something went terribly wrong; possibly a cataclysm, either natural or human-caused. Eventually Nimrod died. How he died is not clear. And, he was survived by his mother, who became the reigning Queen. She loved her son so much, that she had an evergreen tree planted at his burial site and decorated it with silver and gold each December 25th, his birthday. Then, one day, she commanded that everyone in her Queendom must have a tree at their home and decorate it with silver and gold on her son's birthday, and the rest is history. Somewhere along the line this custom became a ritual of Christmas, I think it's a good one. However, the following is a different look at why there are Christmas trees, and it also helps to explain the Christmas colors of red and green.
The idea of a Paradise Tree takes us back to the 1300s, at which time Adam and Eve's Day was celebrated on December 24th each year. Due to the explosive number of people who were illiterate, local churches often presented plays, which they utilized as a learning tool for the general populace. These were labeled, "Miracle Plays," since they touched on issues of religious importance.
The Paradise Play, which was presented on December 24th, related the story of Adam and Eve, and their plight in the Garden of Eden. Of course, props were needed and, since there was no way to provide an apple tree in the middle of winter, it was decided that a pine tree with apples tied to its branches would have to serve as the Tree of Good and Evil, in the center of the garden.
Since this idea worked so well, it became a popular prop for local churches, and the idea spread, until this version of the Tree of Good and Evil was the commonly accepted prop whenever the play was performed. Soon, churches everywhere had adopted this tradition and included it in their celebration each year. The Paradise Tree was so popular in Germany, that private citizens began to erect pine trees in their homes during the holiday, decorating them with red apples, as the church folks had done for their Miracle Play. Before long, the tradition was so widespread, that the modern-day Christmas tree tradition was born, and the official colors of the Christmas season became green and red - green for the pine tree and red for the apples - the combination of which represented the Paradise Tree, which made its debut in the 14th century.
Eventually, the Paradise Tree was also decorated with small white wafers - symbolizing the Holy Eucharist - to remind people that, while Adam and Eve were responsible for the fall of mankind, the birth of the Christ Child would - in effect - reverse the final result of the fall through the eventual suffering and death of Jesus.
Both of these stories explain the reason for trees and the second story explains Christmas colors, which one do you like? It really doesn't matter which one is accurate, what matters is the day and your reasons for celebrating.

Save our environment, use an artificial tree, new technology and better techniques make these trees viable. The trees may be used over and over and when you tire of them, they can be recycled. And, we will donate portions of commissions from sales of artificial trees to groups espousing the cause of renewable energy.

Two countries that have provided the US with citizentry are Germany and Mexico.
Some of the Major events related to German Christmas are as follows:
1. The first major event is Advent. It portrays the commencement of the festival.
2. The next event which is eagerly awaited by the children is St Nicholas Day that falls on the 6th of December.
3. The third is Christmas Eve which is a time when the preparations for the grand finale begins.

The Mexican Christmas history: The Mexican Christmas originated in the 17th century when a Spanish Missionary Fray Pedro de Gante pioneered Christmas in the continent. Since then the festival is celebrated with great passion. Some of the major aspects of Mexican Christmas celebrations include-
1) The Mexican Christmas History is initiated with Las Posadas. It is a nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and lively parties starting December 16.
2) Another event of importance is Las Pastoreals. It is a traditional theatrical performance of the Biblical stories.

Christmas history pagan: The Pagan Christmas history unfolds the clear foundation on which the modern day Christmas celebrations are based. In ancient Babylon, December 25th was celebrated as Yule Day or Holy Child Day. This day marked the birth of the saviour who was born to help the people so that they can come out from misery and darkness.
African Americans have adopted a period of celebration in the last forty years or so, it is called Kwanzaa. It was created by Ron Karenga and was first celebrated from December 26, 1966 to January 1, 1967. The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza", meaning "first fruits". This celebration has it's roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960's, and was adapted in order to give African Americans their own holiday so to speak and to help us reconnect with our African cultural and historical heritage. Now many African Americans, Christians included celebrate Kwanzaa as well as Christmas. Many African Americans (me included) are Christian and we have adopted the traditional Christian holiday that most of America celebrates. Once again Christmas is a time when everyone seems to regard his fellow man in a warm and generous manner.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
and all thru the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.
All the stockings were hung
by the chimney with care
In the hope that St. Nicholas
soon would be there.

Then what to my
wondering eyes should appear,
A miniature sleigh
and eight tiny reindeer.
A little old driver
so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment
it must be St. Nick.

And more rapid than eagles
his reindeer all came
As he shouted, "On Dasher"
and each reindeer's name.
And so up to the housetop
the reindeer soon flew,
with the sleigh full of toys
and St. Nicholas too.

Down the chimney he came
with a leap and a bound
He was dressed all in fur
and his belly was round
He spoke not a word
but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings
then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger
aside of his nose,
then giving a nod
up the chimney he rose
But I heard him exclaim
as he drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all
and to all a Good Night".

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum

Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

The Twelve Days Of Christmas (C'mon you know how to sing this one, you repeat the chorus after each 'day')

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
2nd Two turtle doves
3rd Three French hens
4th Four calling birds
5th Five golden rings
6th Six geese a-laying
7th Seven swans a-swimming
8th Eight maids a-milking
9th Nine ladies dancing
10th Ten lords a-leaping
11th Eleven pipers piping
12th Twelve drummers drumming

What Child Is This?

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

White Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

Good tidings to you,
And all of your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

We all know that Santa's coming,
We all know that Santa's coming,
We all know that Santa's coming,
And soon will be here.

Good tidings to you,
And all of your kin,
Good tidings for Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen.,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You could even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history."

Away In A Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

1 tablespoon unflavored gelatinI
1/2 cup cold water
3 eggs (separated)
1/2 cup low-fat (2%) milk
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
12 packets sugar substitute
1 large graham cracker (crushed) for garnish
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened) - CRUST
9 large graham crackers (crushed) - CRUST
6 packets sugar substitute - CRUST

Directions FILLING - Dissolve gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water - set aside. Beat egg yolks lightly, stir in milk, pumpkin, salt and spice - blend well. Cook in the top of a double boiler, stirring constantly until smooth and thick (7-8 minutes). Remove from heat. Add gelatin and 12 packets of artifical sweetner, stir until completely dissolved. Cool, then chill in frig until mixture thickens. Remove and pour into baked pie crust. Garnish top with crushed graham cracker. CRUST.....In large bowl, mix 1/2 cup butter, graham crackers and 6 packets of sugar substitute. Form in a pie shell and cook 375 degrees for 8 minutes.

Mrs. Claus's Cookbook
From Ashley's Kitchen