All You Never Really Knew About Christmas But Were Probably Too Brainwashed To Ask
December 19th, 2006 | by Ken Grandlund |For the last few years, we’ve all heard the clammoring from those who have endeavored to create a national crisis in their faux War on Christmas. For some, it seems that the defense of the Christian holiday is paramount to salvation. To hear them proclaim that the day is under secular assault and in danger of being hijacked from the realm of true Christianity, one may think that life as we know it is about to end if one more variation of the common holiday greeting, “Merry Christmas,” gets uttered aloud. Their attempts to create a mountain out of a true molehill would be comical at best, were it not for the fact that the holiday as celebrated today bears little resemblance to Christmas celebrations of eras past. Yet more amusing is the fact that Christmas itself (aside from the unsubstantiated claims upon which it is based) is little more than an amalgam of ancient celebrations, usurped from native populations and incorporated into the Christian religion as it spread through the world courtesy of the Roman Empire.
Despite all your Sunday school lessons, popular mythology, and even your secular Santa’s, the fact about Christmas is this-the holiday now celebrated as Christmas in much of the western world began life centuries before the purported birth of Jesus as a pagan celebration of life, rebirth, and rejoicing.
With a little help from my friends at The History Channel (yes- I know they are an entertainment medium, but they are also quite factual in many of their presentations, and at least as un-Hollywood as one can be and still get sponsors), here are some things you may never have known about the origins of Christmas.
IN THE BEGINNING
-The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
-In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days.
-The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.
-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. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down.
-Around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.
IN COME THE CHRISTIANS
-In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday.Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth. Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.
-By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated.
- By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. As a result of ceding celebratory control on Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras.
CHRISTMAS GETS OUTLAWED
-When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas.
-The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.
-After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution. Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
THE CHRISTMAS REFORMATION
-The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.
-It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia.
-Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. The story’s message-the importance of charity and good will 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.
-In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, and gift-giving.
OTHER CHRISTMAS BITS
-Santa Clause is most likely based on the Turkish monk St. Nicholas.
-Christmas trees predate Chsirtianity by thousands of years. Ancient peoples would celebrate the evergreen trees during the winter to remind them of life and rebirth.
(The previous information was taken from the History Channel. Link provided above.)
SO- there you have it. Not only is Christmas just a big jumble of ancient traditions co-opted by a particular religion, there is no one defining Christian identity regarding the holiday at all. So the next time you encounter a someone babbling like a fool about the demise of Christmas or bemoaning the notion that the ’spirit’ of Christmas is fading, remember that their idealized notion of December 25th is neither that pure or that old.
In my house, we begin celebrating at the beginning of December, and since we aren’t religious or Christian, it’s more of winter celebration. But, taking our cues from the Christians of yesteryear, we’ve co-opted our own favorite parts of the holiday, the ones we grew up with and the ones we make anew, and that’s Christmas for us. And we don’t care if you are Jewish or Muslim or Martian in my house. We’ll wish you a Merry Christmas if we feel like it. No offense intended, for to us, it’s a pretty generic seasonal exchange. Besides, Christmas is what it is, and it won’t be the same for me as it is for you. It can’t be. It shouldn’t be.
So while I understand that the commonly accepted name is Christmas, and while I myself say Christmas and wish a good Christmas to others, and sing Christmas songs with religious undertones, I don’t buy the whole “War on Christmas” bullshit. And quite frankly you shouldn’t either. After all, if you’re spending all your time bemoaning the demise of ‘your’ holiday, you surely aren’t enjoying or observing it in any meaningful way. Give it a rest…and Merry Christmas.
[tag]Christmas, War+On+Christmas, History+of+Christmas, History+Channel[/tag]
(cross posted at Common Sense )
24 Responses to “All You Never Really Knew About Christmas But Were Probably Too Brainwashed To Ask”
By Dahbud Mensch on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
It would appear everybody has their ‘own take’ on Christmas and that is fine; however, I do not recall Jesus saying. ‘Kill One Another’, which seems to be a carnal war theme for the 87% of the people, in the States, who are allegedly Christian, rather than “Spiritual War”.
The person who provides my page has another slant on Christmas that is titled, “YOU ARE A PAGAN IF:” and lays out the Pagan foundation of this ‘captured holiday’. It is located here:
http://www.flyingsnail.com/index.html
The man whispered, “God, speak to me” and a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear. So the man yelled “God, speak to me” and the thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, “God let me see you” and a star shined brightly. But the man did not notice. And the man shouted, “God show me a miracle” and a life was born. But the man did not know. So the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know you are there” Whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.
Don’t miss out on a blessing because it isn’t packaged the way you expect.
By Jet Netwal on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Dahbud, I’m not following your 87% figure for support for this war. The revese would be nearer to the truth. Don’t confuse the actions of this horrific adminstration with the sentiments of the average citizen. That’s like saying the average Iraqi shoots Americans on sight. Unfair, and also untrue.
By Paul Merda on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Amazing how few people in this Nation know any of this stuff… Its still considered better to believe than to think and explore…
By Liberal Army Wife on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Merry, Happy, whatever. Whichever holiday you decide to celebrate (Festivus, anyone?) hope its fun, happy, merry, joyous, filling (eat till you plotz), loving, sweet, and everything you want it to be. Since husband is home on leave, mine will be.
LAW
By LesserFool on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
hbud Mensch Says : “It would appear everybody has their ‘own take’ on Christmas and that is fine; however, I do not recall Jesus saying. ‘Kill One Another’, which seems to be a carnal war theme for the 87% of the people, in the States, who are allegedly Christian…”
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
The thing that gets many of these people exercised is not that everyone MUST say “Merry Christmas” or that the present state of Christmas celebrating must NEVER be challenged. Rather, people see the ACLU’s challenges of public displays of religiosity on public property as an unconstitutional challenge of their free exercise of religion rights and of speech.
Here’s how I think it goes:
1. Public property is owned and operated on the people’s coin, on their behalf, and for their benefit.
2. The majority of Americans are Christians, at least nominally.
3. When religious displays are presented on public property, a creche for example (which is, itself, biblically illiterate if it includes wise men, particularly if they are pictured as kings, but that’s another story) or Christmas pageants at public schools, it is nothing more than the expression (thus free speech) of the faith (hence freedom of religion) of the majority of the people.
4. Minorities ought not to be stopped from expressing their preferred religious message but why should Christmas, being the religious expression of the vast majority of Americans, be forbidden on property for which they have paid for, that is operated on their behalf by people whom they pay?
From a purely freedom of speech and freedom of religion standpoint, I think they have a point. Why should the majority be forbidden to express their opinions, religious or otherwise, and their spiritual joy at Christmas or Easter by the very government that is forbidden from infringing upon the free speech and religious exercise of its people? Because non-Christians might be offended at hearing a choir sing about angels on high or the babe, the child of Mary?
By Fred on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
> It would appear everybody has their ‘own take’ on Christmas and that is fine;
> however, I do not recall Jesus saying. ‘Kill One Another’
You’ve not read much of the bible, have you? It requires believers to stone non-believers to death. This is repeated in both the Old and the New Testament.
By Jersey McJones on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Craig - that’s the ACLU’s job - to be a stalwart against majoritarianism in the name of the bill of rights.
JMJ
By SteveIL on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Jersey, the ACLU is supposed to be a bulwark for the free expression of religion as defined in the First Amendment. They work to deny this right, and many of our other rights.
Regardless of the spin on how Christianity usurped the holiday so many centuries ago, the point is Christmas came to us today because the Christians made it a holiday. That is why the word “Christ” is in the word “Christmas”.
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Jersey,
The bill of rights applies equally to the majority and to the minority. That’s garbage that somehow the rights of the majority can be infringed or that it’s the ACLU’s job to make sure that it does.
By Paul Watson The Cranky Brit on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Craig,
This is true, but it is far more common, especially in a democracy, for the majority to successfully strike at the rights of the minority, rather than the reverse, and thius far more likely that the ACLU will be defending the minority rather than the majority.
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Paul W.,
Yes. I have no objection to the ACLU defending the rights of the minority and it is true that the rights of the minority are more likely than those of the majority to require defending. They should be defended. My only point was that the majority has rights and it is not the ACLU’s raison d’être to make sure that those rights are trampled upon.
I simply do not see how a public school holding a concert where Silent Night is sung or a creche on public property tramples upon the rights of non-Christians. Is there a right not to see or hear symbols of Christmas?
On the other hand, equality under the law requires that all people get to express themselves equally. That means that Muslims get to put up a sign “Happy Ramadan”, Jews get to put up a Menorah and Hindi, Hare Krishnas, Rastafarians, Wiccans, and Satanists must all be given equal space on public property for symbols of the expression of their spirituality if Christians get theirs. I suppose that Atheists must also be allowed to wish us all a happy godless life. What’s good for the Christians is also good for all others.
For myself, I would prefer that public property not be used for the expression of religious sentiment or the display of religious symbols. People can do that on the property of their places of worship and upon their own personal property. I’d just as soon keep them off of public property and out of public schools.
By Jersey McJones on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
SteveIL,
Jersey, the ACLU is supposed to be a bulwark for the free expression of religion as defined in the First Amendment. They work to deny this right, and many of our other rights.
No. That’s what sicko Christian Talibani are for. Besides, the ACLU has stood up for all sorts of stupid religious causes over the years.
Craig, the rights of the majority infringed by minorities? What planet are you on today???
JMJ
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Jersey,
On the planet where the ACLU tries to remove a cross memorial from public ground and a cross on a picture of a mission from the seal of the County of Los Angeles. Where schools prevent Christian students from using empty school rooms during free time for Bible Study open to any and all who wish to participate for fear of the ACLU suing them. Where the kids are forbidden to sing Silent Night or any other Christian song at a concert a public school for fear of an ACLU lawsuit.
You do remember freedom of speech, right? Even the majority gets to express themselves and freely exercise their religion.
By frstlymil on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
“Regardless of the spin on how Christianity usurped the holiday so many centuries ago, the point is Christmas came to us today because the Christians made it a holiday. That is why the word “Christ” is in the word “Christmas”.
Since when is it appropriate to rename the word HISTORY (and well researched history at that) “SPIN”? Puhlease. God help us all for living in a time when intellectual curiosity is replaced with disdain for the same and if we don’t like our own history, we dismiss it by calling it SPIN rather than picking up a book. Sigh.
Ya know, I went to public school and sang in the choirs. At Christmastime/Hanukkahtime - we sang holiday songs from both - and secular winter seasonal songs as well. “Wassail”, anyone? Or are including other holiday-themed songs “rights of the majority infringed by minorities”? Craig, okay you didn’t actually mean that, did you - you realize how moronic that sounds? I’m thinking you typo’d. Seriously. Benefit of the doubt - tis the season.
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
This, on the other hand, is just wrong.
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Frstlymil,
You wrote:
Yes I did actually mean that.
Here, for example, is a case where a school district forbade Bible Study as an after school activity and a district court upheld the exclusion. The Supreme Court overturned as an unconstitutional infringement of free-speech and religion.
By SteveIL on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
frstlymil,
You are correct. Bad choice of using the word “spin” on my part. What Ken wrote was accurate and I did know it. I will redo it.
Regardless of the history on how Christianity usurped the holiday so many centuries ago, the point is Christmas came to us today because the Christians made it a holiday. That is why the word “Christ” is in the word “Christmas”.
By Paul Watson The Cranky Brit on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
SteveIL,
Does that mean we can credit the pagan goddess Oestre with Easter and say it isn’t a Christian festival? After all, there’s no Christ in Easter. Not exactly your strongest argument.
By frstlymil on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
The Supreme Court was right - it was an afterschool activity and separation of Church and State does not apply. That being said, and going a bit off topic, at the same public school I went to, “Bible as Literature” was taught as an elective in the English department. A great class. Our more secular neighbors in neighboring countries know far more about what is in the bible than most practicing Christians because by and large, world theology is not taught in the U.S. and many people are far more willing to let people tell them how to think than actually thinking and seeking out knowledge for themselves. I personally believe it is not a violation of Church and State to teach theology in classes that are stated to be just that - but the so-called Christian majority trying to interject one-sided theology into unrelated classes, like Science and history - is simply bad teaching and imposing a “we are the majority opinion when it comes to faith, therefore yours is irrelevant” is morally wrong.
By Craig R. Harmon on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Frstlymil,
Just so we’re all clear, I’m not saying that minorities infringe on the rights of the majority often or systematically. I’m saying that it happens and, when it does, it is necessary to uphold the rights of the majority just as we would the minority.
In reading up for my responses here, I found that there are a lot of schools that teach Bible as literature classes. In some cases, those classes have met opposition but it is generally understood now what is and what is not permitted and so, while not everyone likes it, such classes are generally being permitted.
As for your last point, “trying to interject one-sided theology into unrelated classes, like Science and history” I agree with you. See comment #16.
By Dahbud Mensch on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Regarding the percent, I stand corrected.
According to:
http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html
the 2001 figure was 76.5 percent and the current projected figure is 80 percent.
(fwiw) The 87 percent was a figure that was once mentioned by Media in regard to people who thought Iraq had something to do with 9/11.
In regard to ‘other stuff’:
Didn’t GOD allegedly say, “thou shall not kill” and didn’t JESUS extended this concept when he said,
“Christians are to no longer execute sinners, so they should not wage carnal war, but spiritual warfare (John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 6:11-14; 2 Timothy 2:3-5; 4:6-8)
Christians must be peacemakers forgiving those who do them harm treating their enemies with love and not seeking revenge (Matthew 5:9, Romans 14:19), (Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 6:9-15; Mark 11:25-26), (Luke 6:27-36) (Romans 12:17-21; 1 Peter 3:8-12).
Hatred which is the same as murder is unforgiving, vengeful and hostile towards one’s enemies” (1 John 3:15)
???
Ever stop to think how people might treat Jesus today if he showed up as a Jewish hippie… or John the B.?
By SteveIL on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Paul Watson,
Actually, it is a strong argument for the holiday known as Christmas. What was usurped was the time of year chosen to celebrate it as there is scant (if any) historical information on when exactly Jesus was born (and they didn’t take the time to find out back when Christmas became a holiday). Easter, on the other hand, may have usurped the name, but not the time or reason for the holiday (the death and Resurrection occurring just after Passover).
You are talking apples and oranges.
By ken grandlund on Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
Actually SteveIL, the Christian Easter holiday was built upon the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Again, from the History Channel:
The Christian festival of Easter probably embodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name for Easter. The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.
And it too is steeped with pagan symbolism:
Easter, a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christian traditions. The origin of its name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring.
It seems that there isn’t a pagan holiday that the early Christians couldn’t keep their hands off.