How Christmas came along

So it is “Christ mass” season!!! We have Rudolph - the Red-nosed Reindeer, holly wreaths, decorated trees, mistletoe, season’s greetings, seasonal music, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire”, receiving and giving gifts everywhere and of course Santa Claus is coming to town. Engaged in all these activities, the importance of sharing the origin of Christmas has been lost. So here it goes, this is my Christmas gift to all the readers…

Once upon a time, a long long long time ago, an angel was born in Bethlehem. He was Jesus, son of God, born in the world to fight against the wrong doings and bring a message of goodwill to the world. Shepherds, wise men, and angels all shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew this was no ordinary baby. The prophets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child. And this marked the start of Chritmas…

However if you wish to know the real history behind this festival, please continue reading….

There is no mention of this festival in Bible. Per The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, the Christian church used to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth. It was 300 years after Christ before the Roman church kept Christmas, and not until the fifth century that it was mandated to be kept throughout the empire as an official festival honoring “Christ.”

On the contrary, the pagan world has celebrated this festival for thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Nearly all aspects of this festival have their roots in Roman culture and religion.  It is considered likely the first Christmas celebrations were in reaction to the Roman Saturnalia (December 17-25^th), a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honored Saturn, the god of sowing. In ancient Rome, December 25th was the shortest day of the year. So actually the Romans were celebrating the pagan festival of Saturnalia and not Christmas. It occurred each year around the beginning of winter, or the winter solstice. This was the time when the sun had taken its lowest path across the sky and the days were beginning to lengthen, thus assuring another season of growth and warmth so that plantation can occur. Shocking isn’t it!!!!

As per ancient Greek writer, poet and historian Lucian (in his dialogue Saturnalia), this festival was a long period of lawlessness. There was a widespread of human sacrifice, Roman pagans used to sing and run naked from home to home consuming human shaped biscuits (which all Christmas celebrating people buy now from bakeries).  So in the 4th century CE, Christian leaders persuaded pagan masses to convert in Christianity promising they can continue to celebrate Saturnalia as Christians. However the concern was there was no relation between Saturnalia and Christian. To eradicate this issue, Christian leaders named Saturnalia’s concluding day, December 25th, to be Jesus’ birthday. Here you go. That’s how Christmas came along as “Christ mass”.

No reading is complete without talking about Christmas tree. The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany. But the Germans got it from the Romans, who got it from the Babylonians and the Egyptians. Actually the tree is an interpretation of these non Christian cultures wherein Evergreens were thought to represent the ever-burning fire of life, green affirms nature and ongoing life, red is a symbol of fire of spirits. All the decorative balls represent the planets. The bright star on the top of the tree points towards heaven, all the gods and symbolizes that spirit unites with nature.

The Christmas tress came in fashion by 1846 when popular royals, Queen Victoria and German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. However the credit of starting the Christmas tree tradition goes to Germans where trees were decorated at homes.

Now comes the turn of our sweet Santa Claus. Some of this elf’s characteristics date back many centuries. The belief that Santa enters the house through the chimney developed from an Old Norse legend. The Norse believed that the goddess Hertha appeared in the fireplace and brought good luck to the home.

Although there comes another European theory wherein the original Santa Claus, was a bishop by the name of St. Nicholas of Asia Minor of the fourth century, who used to give gifts to the needy under an evergreen tree.

And here is another factual intake for you. In 1931, the Coca Cola Corporation contracted the Swedish commercial artist Haddon Sundblom to create a coke-drinking Santa.  Sundblom modeled his Santa on his friend Lou Prentice, chosen for his cheerful, chubby face.  The corporation insisted that Santa’s fur-trimmed suit be bright, Coca Cola red.  And Santa was born – a blend of Christian crusader, pagan god, and commercial idol.

What so ever is said or written about Christmas’s origin, the fact remains the same in all cultures. Christmas is the season of happiness, goodwill and helping the needy. God is one and He says the same. Merry Christmas to all!!!!