As we are at that time of year when everything points towards the celebration of Christmas, I thought it might be fun to share with you some information about how and why we celebrate this holiday the way we do. I think it's very interesting that so many of our traditions actually had their beginnings in pagan cultures. But I can't imagine Christmas time without them. I hope you enjoy this little history lesson and the significance of the practices which we think of as purely Christmas!
Why December 25th? December was likely chosen as the day of Christ's birth so the Catholic Church could compete with rival pagan rituals held at that time of year and because of its closeness with the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere, a traditional time of celebration among many ancient cultures. It seems pretty evident from scriptures that it must have been springtime since the shepherds were all out in the fields with the sheep and lambs. This holiday (or "holy day"), along with Easter, were chosen specifically to offset the Roman celebrations happening in winter and in spring and some of the ancient Roman traditions stayed.
The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (pagan and Christian) for thousands of years. Pagans used branches of it to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia held during the last 10 days of December. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life. In 16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper.
It is held that Protestant reformer Martin Luther first adorned trees with light. While coming home one December evening, the beauty of the stars shining through the branches of a fir inspired him to recreate the effect by placing candles on the branches of a small fir tree inside his home.
Mistletoe was used by Druid priests 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant since it had no roots yet remained green during the cold months of winter. The ancient Celts believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and used it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward off evil spirits. The plant was also seen as a symbol of peace, and it is said that among Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace.
Scandanavians associated the plant with Frigga, their goddess of love, and it may be from this that we derive the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Those who kissed under the mistletoe had the promise of happiness and good luck in the following year.
Boughs of holly, believed to have magical powers since they remained green through the harsh winter, were often placed over the doors of homes to drive evil away. In Northern Europe Christmas occurred during the middle of winter, when ghosts and demons could be heard howling in the winter winds. Greenery was also brought indoors to freshen the air and brighten the mood during the long, dreary winter.
Legend also has it that holly sprang from the footsteps of Christ as he walked the earth. The pointed leaves were said to represent the crown of thorns Christ wore while on the cross and the red berries symbolized the blood he shed.
Saint Nicholas Feast Day is an important celebration in some European countries. The children emulate the life of Saint Nicholas as the bringer of the gifts for children. On the night of December 5, the children wearing angel and devil costumes carol from house to house and receive presents. In some countries, Santa Claus (also called "Father Christmas") visits the children on the morning of December 6. The children place their shoes near the fireplace or the door so that Santa will leave them candies and fruit. In many countries the traditional gift giving day is January 6 which is the final day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelfth Night or Epiphany which marks the day the Wise Men brought gifts to Baby Jesus. Also on this day in France, the Galette des Rois, or Kings' Cake, is eaten. It is baked with a small charm inside and whoever gets the piece with the charm gets to be King or Queen for the day.
The custom of burning the Yule Log goes back to, and before, medieval times. It was originally a Nordic tradition. Yule is the name of the old Winter Solstice festivals in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. The Yule Log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony. The largest end of the log would be placed into the fire hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room! The log would be lit from the remains of the previous year's log which had been carefully stored away and slowly fed into the fire through the Twelve Days of Christmas. It was believed to be important to rid the house of the "old" and bring prosperity for the "new".
Today many emulate this tradition by baking a special "yule log" cake - the French call it a "Buche de Noël", made and decorated to look like a log, but made out of yummy creams and chocolate and sometimes some dried fruit.
I'm hoping to spend Christmas in France next year. I look forward to learning about new traditions and seeing all the French decorations and food and celebrations. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you enjoyed this "lesson" in Christmas celebrations. It is true: "once a teacher, always a teacher!" And I do wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, and Feliz Navidad!
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