When celebrating Christmas, people forget to delve deeper into the trivia behind the many Chrismas traditions. Often they are spending the season shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. Here are some great tidbits to share with your family this season.
The original meaning of Christmas concerns the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. This religious holiday observed by Christians worldwide has become an important commercial holiday. Retailers and other businesses have created so many products that the Christmas market defies the imagination. One byproduct of the Christmas business involves the celebration of the holiday by many who don’t even believe in its Christian meaning.
People engage in decorating homes, businesses, and organizations with Christmas decorations. They even exchange gifts in Secret Santa schemes. The holy side of Christmas occupies a lesser role than the commercial side.
The following tidbits can be found in George Schaun’s “American Holidays and Special Days”:
1. It is interesting to consider where the traditions of Christmas began. From the angel on top of the tree to the Christmas lights on the exterior of private homes, there are many traditions practiced prior to December 25 each year. One possible source of the Christmas tree tradition is the ancient civilization of Egypt.
2. There is a different explanation for the beginnings of the customs of mistletoe, holly, and evergreen trimmings, now common symbols of Christmas. According to Schaun, these plants were associated with the festivities celebrated by the Druids in early Britain and Gaul. As forest-loving peoples, Druids used these plants in the celebration of the winter solstice, which occurs four days before Christmas on today’s calendar.
3. Americans didn’t begin to associate the holiday with Saint Nicholas until after the famous poem penned by Clement Moore, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.” This body of verse begins with the well-known line of “‘Twas the night before Christmas.” Moore’s work dates back to 1844. Many Americans can recall hearing this poem during their childhood or reading it to their little ones.
4. Christmas cards have not existed for even two centuries. The first card celebrating Christmas was printed in Great Britain in the year 1843. The first American card celebrating the same holiday was sent in the year 1853. According to Schaun, Americans didn’t start the greeting card business until 1875. It is interesting how many years passed before this tradition caught on as a commercial enterprise in the U.S.
5. Americans didn’t always go to shopping malls and purchase their gifts from retailers. During the World War I period, people tended to craft their own gifts in the home. At that time, it wasn’t frowned upon to give homemade gifts. If more people embraced that perspective now, retailers would suffer tremendous financial losses.
Appreciate other intriguing bits of trivia about the history and traditions of Christmas. For more research on Christmas history, visit your local library or do a virtual search. These facts make great conversation at Christmas parties.
Another Christmas tradition involves St. Nick instead of Santa Claus. My husband is Belgian and grew up with Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children who was known for his secret gift giving. When my husband was a little boy, at night he would place his shoes outside and if he was good, St Nick would leave a little treat in his shoes. In Holland and Belgium, children celebrate the holiday of St. Nicholas on December 6th. In the days leading up to the holiday, they receive little treats in their shoes and then receive a gift the morning of December 6th.