Christmas Traditions

Christians began to celebrate Jesus’ birthday during the reign of Emperor Constantine.  December 25, 336 was recorded as the first celebration of Christmas or Christ’s Mass.  The Roman Catholic Church also called this day “the Feast of the Nativity.”  Many cultures around the world had festivals during December.  They were celebrating the Winter Solstice, the Festival of Lights, the Roman festival of Saturnalia( a festival of merrymaking and gift giving), Celtic stories of Balder, a Scandinavian god, struck down by a mistletoe arrow, the celebration of the  birth of the god, Mithra and others.  Scholars debate that the date was chosen so that Christians would not rejoice with pagans; however, some of our dearest traditions have been converted from pagan celebrations.

Some of the traditions of Christmas that have been added are interesting.  Scandinavians (and Hallmark actors) still kiss under the mistletoe;  St Nicholas, is a 4^th Century figure from Lycia (now Turkey) who threw gifts into homes of the poor.  In the 8^th century AD, St. Boniface, an apostle to Germany, said an evergreen is a symbol of the everlasting Christ, therefore we have Christmas trees.  Some say Martin Luther added candles to the branches to represent stars.  We began to sing Christmas Carols around the 13^th century in Europe.  Instead of the 18^th century the Dutch “Sinter Klaas”, described as a “rascal” who wore a blue three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings, America began to change the image of Santa.  Washington Irving (1783-1859) is credited with creating Christmas as we know it.  In 1822 Clement Moore in “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” a poem written for his children, described Santa as a plump, bearded, jolly guy.  He named his reindeer and described Santa giving gifts to children.  The invention of the television also helped to make Santa Claus the legend he is today.

Now in the 20^th and 21^st centuries in our effort to celebrate the birthday of  Jesus Christ, we have given over to celebrating ourselves with gifts, stress, consumption, gluttony, legends, and other artifacts derived from pagan festivals.  Our meager gift to Christ might be to visit Church on Christmas Eve.

Jesus did not want us to worship Him but wanted us to know His Father as He did.  Jesus carried THE message of the ages.  You will “love your God with all your heart, mind, and soul…and your neighbor as yourself.”(Matthew 22:37-40).  I see nothing wrong with our celebrating Winter with gifts and family gatherings, and merriment, if we don’t confuse what Christmas has become with the true meaning of the birth of the Savior of the World.  

I haven’t decided what to do with all these pictures.  I believe Jesus would have enjoyed my birthday party, if He and I were 5 years old.  Its time we all grow up and realize that the way we celebrate Winter is OK, but the way we celebrate Christmas may not honor our Savior’s birth.