THE HISTORY OF TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS:
Where did our Symbols and Traditions come from?
By Denise Miller
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” is how the song goes and it is. Homes are being decorated and Christmas trees are going up inside and out, with beautiful lights and ornaments. The stores are full of ideas for gifts and the number one Christmas candy is Candy Canes! Groups of people are walking the neighborhood streets singing for their neighbors. After three seasons of waiting, we are all on the lookout for snow!
How did this all start? Did you know that candy canes began as a treat for children in a German choir in 1670? It appears that a choirmaster in Cologne Cathedral bent straight white candy sticks into a “J” form for children in his choir to keep them quiet and content during the long church service. In the U.S., in 1897, a German immigrant named August Imgard is said to have been the first person to have them placed on his Christmas tree. They were still white until around 1900 when the stripes began. No one knows why for certain although some poems about candy canes claim the red stripes represent Jesus’ blood. They became common and soon peppermint was added to them. Nowadays candy canes come in a variety of colors, flavors, and sizes. The standard red and white remain most popular.
The history of a “White Christmas” began in 1940 with the song “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin. In 1942 a film named “Holiday Inn” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire contained the song sung by Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds. The song received an Academy Award for Best Song and remains popular today. The song expresses a sense of yearning and peace, wanting to go home in the midst of war. “White Christmas” struck a timeless common chord among all people, making it the biggest selling single for over 50 years!
One common decoration during the holiday season is Holly. Its beginnings are in the customs of the Druids in Northern Europe and in rituals by the Romans. Early Christians began to adorn doors and windows to prevent entry by witches and evil spirits. They also used holly to protect themselves from illness, believing it held magical powers to drive away evil spirits. The custom continues today with wreathes of Holly on the front doors of homes. The prickly leaves symbolize the crown of thorns which Jesus was forced to adorn his head. The red berries symbolize the blood he shed for the world.
“Oh Tannenbaum “- the Christmas tree, the most recognizable symbol of Christmas, began in ancient celebrations by early Pagan cultures, soon mingling with early Christianity. Evergreens were used by Egyptians, Romans, Druids and Anglo-Saxons. The tradition of decorating the trees began as a celebration for Winter Solstice. Early Christmas trees, as we know them, first appeared in Germany in 1605. Early ornaments were often made of handmade or edible items such as berries, nuts, candy, and fruits. In 1840, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England began displaying lavishly decorated trees adding beads and glass ornaments to the other decorations. The Christmas tree arrived in North America in the later part of the 19th century with the arrival of German and Irish immigrants. In the 1930’s decorations decreased due to the depression and then World War II. In time, plastic and glass balls were used to embellish the tree. Lights began when in 1882 Thomas Edison’s assistant Edward Johnson developed the idea of tree lights that ran on electricity. Now we decorate trees for inside and outside our houses, and different public establishments in brilliant displays enjoyed every year by many.
The tradition of Christmas Caroling began in the early days of Christianity with songs being composed as chants or hymns. Early carols were actually a circle dance without music or any form of song. At the time, people were only allowed to sing outside of the church, not inside. Some began nativity folk songs which became popular over time. Saint Francis of Assisi made Christmas carols part of the church service. The story is that he introduced carols in church during a Midnight Mass in a church in Greccio, in the province of Umbria, in 1223. Carols usually tell the story of the birth of Jesus or the tradition of gift giving. Common themes are Christmas and Religion. Every country has its own catalogue of historic Christian music. Festivals are celebrated worldwide that bring Christians together in celebration of the holiday. Today we have many people caroling, and expressing joy to the community.
Gifts became part of the Christmas celebrations in the 1860s. The custom varies around the world with gifts being given on either Christmas Day, eve, or on Saint Nicholas Day. Modern day gift giving is said to be a remembrance of the gifts the Three Wise Men gave to the Christ Child in the manger.
Gifts today are an expression of love, friendship, charity and good will. MERRY CHRISTMAS !
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