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Global Origins of Christmas
Customs & Traditions 
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ADVENT CALENDAR
The Advent calendar originated in Germany and Scandinavia, but it has now become very popular in America as well. Sometimes it is the picture of a house with windows that can be opened to reveal the tiny pictures behind them. Other times it is a picture of a typical Christmas scene or snowcape with perforated areas that can be removed or opened, again to reveal the pictures behind. There is one window or flap for each day of Advent, the season before Christmas or, sometimes one for each day of December leading up to Christmas. Each day, the children are allowed to reveal one picture. The picture thus revealed are of toys or Christmas scenes. The last and largest picture is revealed on December 25th. It is the nativity scene, which gives meaning to all the joy and fun that the other pictures represent.
ADVENT WREATH
The Advent wreath is of Lutheran origin, but its sense of joyous anticipation has made it popular with many other religious groups in England and America. It is an evergreen wreath with four candles set in holders attached to it. Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, on the first Sunday of Advent, one candle is lighted each week as a symbol of light that will come into the world with the birth of Jesus. On the last Sunday before Christmas, all four are lighted to give a radiance to the church altar or the dining room table, wherever one wishes to set up the wreath. In some countries, Advent candles are similarly burned each week, but without being set in a wreath.
BEARD
St. Nicholas is traditionally imaged as bearded. Furthermore the Magi are bearded, being Persian priests. A traditional feature. The beard is white because the man is old.
BELLS
The ringing of bells at Christmastime is a holdover from pagan mid-winter celebrations. When the earth was cold and the sun was dying, evil spirits were very powerful. One of the ways to drive them off was by making a great deal of noise. As making a great deal of noise was also rather fun, the noisemaking ceremonies were entered into with much good will. Bells were a very useful part of this, you could play a bell and shout or sing at the same time. Today the church bells ring throughout the world on Christmas Eve, not to drive evil spirits away, but to welcome in the spirit of Christmas with a joyful noise. In Scandinavia, bells signal the end of work and the beginning of festivity. In England, the tolling of devil's knell welcomes the birth of Christ. In Italy and Spain, it signals the Midnight Mass.
BIRD'S CHRISTMAS TREE
This is a custom throughout the Scandinavian countries at Christmastime and is in keeping with the general tendency to try to share festivities with all animal and even plant life so that the coming year will be a prosperous one. A sheaf of wheat or some other grain, or even just seeds and bread, is placed on a pole and set up outside where the birds are known to congregate. This is done on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The sight and sound of the outdoor festivity at the bird's Christmas tree can add greatly to the zest and warmth of the indoor celebration.
BLOWING IN THE YULE
One of the delightfully noisy traditions of Christmas, this custom probably originated in pagan times to ward off evil spirits. It is today found in areas of Germany and the Scandinavian countries. A group of musicians take their instruments to the belfry of the local church and lustily play four Christmas carols, one in each direction of the compass. They finish with a joyful peal of the bells, which announces that Christmas has arrived.
CANDLE
Light was an important part of the pagan midwinter festivities, since this was the time when the sun ceased to wane and began to grow stronger and brighter. In imitation candles and bonfires helped to drive away the forces of cold and darkness. Wax tapers were given as gifts at the Roman festival of Saturnalia. To the Christian community, the lighting of candles took on the additional symbolic significance of Jesus as the Light of the World. Christmas candles are made in all shapes, colors and sizes and are very often scented as balsam and evergreen. The beautiful idea of Christmas candles shining from windowsis a custom still practiced in Europe. In Sweden, St. Lucy appears wearing a crown of candles. In Victorian England, tradesmen made annual gifts of candles to their loyal customers. In many parts of the world , the Advent candles reflect the dawning season and remind us of the coming Light. The addition of lighted candles to the paradise tree marked the birth of our most beloved Christmas tree. The Christmas candle, with its brightness, sacredness and sense of well-being, is an indispensable part of the Christmas season.
CANDLEMAS
This is the celebration of the ritual purification of Mary, which, as required by Jewish law, took place forty days after the birth of her child. Candlemas is February 2. The first celebration took place in the late seventh or early eighth centuries. The custom of blessing the candles that were carried in processions gave the day its popular name of Candlemas. In many countries, Candlemas has been looked upon as the end of the Christmas season. This was the day when the decorations would be taken down and stored for another year. The Christmas plants would be burned, with the remnants of the Yule log and the ashes spread over the gardens to ensure a good harvest. The Yule log for the next year would be chosen then. Candlemas was also a good day for weather forecasting. If it was a sunny day, there would be forty more days of cold and snow. This belief has carried into American folklore tradition as Groundhog Day, February 2.
CANDY CANE
A Candymaker, in Indiana, U.S.A., wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd " with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who " have eyes to see and ears to hear."
CAP
Probably from the bishop's mitre of St. Nicholas. Curiously enough the mitre resembles and possibly derives from the headgear of old Magi (mages, Persian priests. the other Christmas present-givers). The Phrygian headgear of French Revolution fame might be one influence.
CHIMNEY
In Scandinavia and Germany Santa comes on 24th December, knocking the door like normal people. In England and America the visit is secret and thus the entrance must be special: the chimney.
CHRISTMAS
From old English Cristes maesse (Christ's Mass), older still, Yule, from the Germanic root geol. The traditional Christmas is not a single day but a prolonged period, normally from 24th December to 6th January. This included the New Year, thus increasing the festival value of Christmas.
CHRISTMAS CARD
The practice of sending Christmas greeting cards to friends was initiated by Sir Henry Cole in England. The year was 1843 and the first card was designed by J.C.Horsley. It was commercial, 1000 copies were sold in London. An English artist, William Egley, produced a popular card in 1849. Louis Prang, a German-born printer, working from his shop in Roxbury, Massachusetts, printed his first American cards in 1875. Even more important than his printing was the fact that he did more than anyone else to popularize the cards by instituting nationwide contests for the best Christmas designs, which were awarded cash prizes. From the beginning the themes have been as varied as the Christmas customs worldwide. Creation of the "penny post" by the british postal system made it inexpensive to correspond with large numbers of friends.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
The Catholic Church valued music greatly and it is no wonder that the early Christmas songs date from 4th century (the earliest known is Jesus refulsit omnium by St.Hilary of Poitiers). The Mediaeval Christmas music followed the Gregorian tradition. In Renaissance Italy there emerged a lighter and more joyous kind of Christmas songs, more like the true carols (from the French word caroler, meaning to dance in a ring). These songs continued to be religious and in Latin, though. In Protestant countries the tradition, as everything Christmas-related, intensified.
Luther wrote and composed his song "From Heaven above I come to You". Music by Handel and Mendelssohn was adapted and used as Christmas carols. The old Finnish/Swedish collection Piae Cantiones was translated and published in English in mid - 19th century. The most famous of all, Silent Night (Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) was written by the Austrian parish priest Joseph Mohr and composed by Franz Gruber, church organist, in 1818. In 19th century and later many popular songs were written by composers (e.g. Adam, Sibelius). The themes of songs surpassed religion and the totality of Christmas paraphernalia found its way to carol music.
CHRISTMAS CRIB
Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. In Catholic countries this fact is brought to mind with miniature replicas of the nativity scene. The manger, animals, miniatures of Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds and the Three Magi are part of this very popular symbol. It was started (says the legend) by St. Franciscus of Assisi. The Pope has his own in Rome but nowadays the custom is followed in Protestant countries, too.
CHRISTMAS DAY
The traditional date for the appearance of Santa Claus, obviously from the birth date of Jesus (the word Christmas is from old English, meaning Christ's mass). This date is near the shortest day of the year, from old times an important agricultural and solar feasting period in Europe. The actual birthday of Jesus is not known and thus the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed the day as was most convenient. The best fit seemed to be around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a traditional pagan festivity with tumultuous and unruly celebrations. Moreover, in 273 Emperor Aurelianus had invented a new pagan religion, the cult of Sol Invictus (invincible sun, the same as the Iranian god Mithra), the birthday of this god being 25th December (natalis sol invicti). The Christian priests obviously saw this choice as doubly meritorious: using the old customary and popular feasting date but changing the rough pagan ways into a more civilized commemoration. The first mention of the birthday of Jesus is from the year 354. Gradually all Christian churches, except Armenians (celebrating 6th January which date is for others the baptismal day of Jesus and the day of the three Magi), accepted the day. In American/English tradition the Christmas Day itself is the day for Santa, in German/Scandinavian tradition the Christmas Eve is reserved for presents.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
There are many roots of this custom. There is St. Nicholas the anonymous benefactor, there is the tradition of Magi giving precious gifts to Jesus, there is the Roman custom of giving gifts of good luck to children during Saturnalia. The day of gift giving varies greatly in different Christian cultures and times:
6th December - in memory of St. Nicholas
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Birthday of Jesus
1st of January - the New year
6th of January - The Epiphany, day of the Three Wise men, the Magi
The giver of the presents are many: Jesus himself, Old Father Christmas, Santa Claus, a Goat, Befana (the female Santa in Italy), the three Magi, Christmas gnomes, various Saints, the Kolyada (in Russia), the Joulupukki (in Finland). The oldest Finnish tradition did not necessarily involve a giver of the presents at all: an unseen person threw the gifts in from the door and quickly disappeared.
CHRISTMAS PLAYS
Religious plays were part of the Medieval Christian tradition and many of them were connected with Christmas. The plays were often communal with pageants and general participation. A popular theme was the coming of the Magi (the Three Kings), because the plot allowed lots of pomp and decorative props to please the audience. These plays live on in many places, for instance in Finland in the form of the traditional Star Boys drama.
CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS
Candles, fires: Summer, warmth, paradise, end of darkness, Jewish Hanukkah
Tree: Eternal life, Paradise tree, pagan symbol
Apples: Apple of Paradise
Reindeer: A prop
Santa Claus: St Nicholas, pagan deity
Gifts: Customary (Romans, pagans everywhere), Magi
Mistletoe: Peace, kisses
Holly: Christ's crown of thorns
Gnomes: Pagan entirely
Straw: Stable & crib, pagan, handy material for decorations
Sock: A prop (as chimney etc.) to hold gifts
CHRISTMAS TREE
The custom of a Christmas tree, undecorated, is believed to have begun in Germany, in the first half of the 700's. The earliest story relates how british monk and missionary St. Boniface was preaching a sermon on the Nativity to a tribe of Germanic Druids outside the town of Geismar. To convince the idolaters that the oak tree was not sacred and inviolable, the "Apostle of Germany" felled one on the spot. Toppling, it crushed every shrub in its path except for a small fir sapling. A chance event can lend itself to numerous interpretations, and legend has it that Boniface, attempting to win converts, interpreted the fir's survival as a miracle, concluding, "Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child." Subsequent Christmases in Germany were celebrated by planting fir saplings.
The history of the modern Christmas tree goes back to 16th century Germany. In Alsace (Elsass), dated 1561, states that "no burgher shall have for Christmas more than one bush of more than eight shoes' length." The decorations hung on a tree in that time, the earliest we have evidence of, were "roses cut of many-colored paper, apples, wafers, gilt, sugar." Around Strasbourg there was a widespread practice of bringing trees (evergreens, not necessarily a fir-tree) into houses for decoration during Christmastide.
The modern custom is also connected with the Paradise tree hung with apples, present in the medieval religious plays. The decorations could symbolize the Christian Hosts. Instead of trees, various wooden pyramidal structures were also used. In 17th century the Christmas tree spread through Germany and Scandinavia. Eventually the tree was extensively decorated, first with candles and candies, then with apples and confections, later with anything glittering mass-produced paraphernalia.
The success of Christmas tree in Protestant countries was enhanced by the legend which attributed the tradition to Martin Luther himself. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. In England the tradition was made popular by the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. The German immigrants brought the Christmas tree to America in 17th century. Public outdoors Christmas trees with electric candles were introduced in Finland in 1906, and in USA (New York) in 1912. The claim of the Pennsylvania Germans to have initiated the Christmas tree custom in America is undisputed today. And it's in the diary of Matthew Zahm of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, under the date December 20, 1821, that the Christmas tree and its myriad decorations received their first mention in the New World.
It is no surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The Pilgrims' second governor, William bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event."
C.M.B.
These are the initials of the three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They are written over front doors of homes in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden by the Star Boys on their Epiphany visits. Along with the initials, three crosses are drawn. According to tradition, the homes marked with these holy symbols will experience only good fortune throughout the year.
COSTUME
The general form of the cloak probably derives from St. Nicholas, although the traditional costumes of the three Magi also may have contributed. The fur linings probably are logical add-on to fit the Northern Myth. In Finland Father Christmas may use true fur coat.
CRADLE ROCKING
This was a charming custom emphasizing the humanity of the Christ Child. It originated in Germany at the Midnight Mass of Christmas Eve. A manger scene would be set up in the church and the celebrant and altar boys would rock the cradle of the Holy Infant. Lullabylike carols would be sung at the same time to help the infant Jesus sleep.
DECORATIONS
Anything goes nowadays. In old times they were simple, wood, paper, straw and often very intricate. Themes follow the general taste of each time but national traditions can be discerned even now.
DIPPING IN THE KETTLE
In memory of an ancient famine, the family gathers in Swedish kitchens on Christmas Eve before the midday meal. A great pot is filled with a broth made of drippings of pork, sausage and corned beef. Each family member dips a piece of dark bread on a fork into the broth until the bread is saturated and then eats it. This is necessary for good luck and a coming year of plenty.
EISTEDDFOD
In Wales at Christmastime, a Christmas poem is designated each year to be set to music. Choirs all over the country vie for the honor of having their music chosen to be the official Christmas carol. These choirs come together in the marketplaces of every size town and village to sing their version as well as the official carols from many years past. This combination carol sing and contest is called an eisteddfod. There is also a National Eisteddfod, held every year since 1860, which determines the final selection and also has contests in drama, prose and petry. The custom of choosing a national carol was begun in the tenth century.
FIRST-FOOTING
In some areas of the world, such as Scotland, first-footing takes place at the New Year, but in much of England it happens on Christmas Day. The first-footer is the first person to enter the house and is said to let in Christmas. In some areas, he is professionally hired to be sure that all is done properly, because there are many superstitions involved in the custom. He carries an evergreen twig, comes in at the front door, passes through the house and exits through the rear. He may be given salt or bread or some other small gift as a symbol of hospitality. He should have dark hair, but not red hair and to let a woman in first is thought to be disastrous.
FOOD
Christmas means eating in most parts of the Christian world. In old societies hunger was the supreme king and eating was the highest contrast, the supreme way to nirvana. Meat of some kind was the most important dish (was this connected with the words of Jesus, "this is my flesh"?), often pork, ham, goose, (later turkey), fish (carp, salmon). An innumerable variety of cakes and pastries, often very intricate and only baked for Christmas were and are known throughout the world. Cakes could be hung from the Christmas tree, too.
HOLLY
Holly is a familiar green shrub, usually thought if as having red berries and dark glossy green leaves with thorny tips, although there are many other varieties. The bright colors of the holly made it a natural symbol of rebirth and life in the winter whiteness of northern Europe. In late December, the Teutonic peoples traditionally placed holly and other evergreens around the interior of dwellings to ward off winter bad weather and unwanted spirits. Holly flourishes in almost every kind of soil and extreme temperatures, but does not do well in the shade. The berries are poisonous to human beings. Traditionally in England, the prickly holly is called "he" and the non-prickly "she". Which type of holly first brought into the house at Christmas determines who will rule the household for the coming year.
JACK HORNER PIE
This is named for the Christmas or mince pie from which the famous nursery rhyme character abstracted a plum. The term applies to a type of Christmas gift in modern England. It is a container in the shape of a pie, although it is not to be eaten. Its actual function is to contain a variety of small gifts and goodies, like a grab bag.
KISSING BOUGH
Until the introduction of the Christmas tree in the middle of the nineteenth century, the kissing bough was the primary piece of decorative greenery in the English Christmas. It was in the shape of a double hoop with streamers going up to a central point, like a Maypole with two circle garlands. It was made up of evergreen boughs, holly and ivy and hung with apples and pears and ribbons and ornaments, with lighted candles and a bunch of mistletoe hanging from the center. As its name implies, the woman whp accidentally wandered under the kissing bough had to pay the ancient penalty and allow herself to be kissed.
LAMB'S WOOL
This was one of the traditional hot drinks that would have gone into the wassail bowl of England; it was the toast floating on the top that made it look like lamb's wool. The drink was made up of hot ale, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, eggs and roasted apples.
LIGHTS
One of the greatest sources of danger in the old Christmas celebration was the burning of candles on the Christmas tree. They were lovely but they were a fire hazard and pails of water were kept standing around the living room to douse the fires that happened. The idea of electric Christmas tree lights first occurred to Ralph E. Morris, an employee of New England Telephone, in 1895. The actual strings of lights had already been manufactured for use in telephone switchboards. Morris looked at the tiny bulbs and had the idea of using them on his tree.
MAGI
From old Persian language, a priest of Zarathustra (Zoroaster). The Bible gives us the direction, East and the legend states that the wise men were from Persia (Iran) - Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar - thus being priests of Zarathustra religion, the mages. Obviously the pilgrimage had some religious significance for these men, otherwise they would not have taken the trouble and risk of travelling so far.
MISTLETOE
Sacred to ancient druids and a symbol of eternal life the same way as Christmas tree. The Romans valued it as a symbol of peace and this lead eventually its acceptance among Christmas props. Kissing under mistletoe was a Roman custom, too.
MORAVIAN LOVEFEAST
A Moravian tradition called the Lovefeast is a Christmas Eve church service at which sweet coffee and a roll with an "M" stamped on it are served, and at which people have beeswax candles with red paper frills around the bottom on tin candle-holders.
NORTH POLE
The supposed dwelling place of the American Father Christmas. No clear significance of any kind. Probably connected with the general "Northern exposure"of the American Christmas lore. The fact that Christmas is pronouncedly Winter's festivity may contribute: North Pole is Winter doubled.
ORNAMENTS
The first Christmas trees had real fruit and flowers as their only ornaments. Cookies, nuts and other kinds of food were later added. Lighted candles were placed on the trees. All of this was understandably heavy, and took a sturdy tree to stand up. German glass blowers began producing featherweight glass balls to replace the fruit and other heavy ornaments.
PLUM PUDDING
The first plum puddings were made around 1670. They were a stiffened form of the earlier plum porridge. Plum puddings to not contain any plums. To the early mild porridge were added lumps of meat, dried fruits such as raisins and currants, rum and brandy, butter, sugar, eggs and many spices. They were made in large copper kettles and prepared several weeks before Christmas. The making of the pudding was attended by the entire household & each family member took turns at stirring the thick steaming stew and each made a wish. A coin, a thimble, a button and a ring were mixed into the pudding. Later when it was eaten, each object would have significance for the finder. The coin would mean wealth in the new year, the button meant bachelorhood, the thimble spinsterhood and the ring was marriage.
POINSETTIA
In Mexican legend, a small boy knelt at the altar of his village church on Christmas Eve. He had nothing to offer the Christ Child on his birthday because he had no money, but his prayers were sincere and a miracle gave him the present that could be bought by no one; the first Flower of the Holy Night sprang up at his feet in brilliant red and green homage to the holy birth. Thus was born the flower we know as the Poinsettia. Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett was the American ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829. His keen interest in botany made him very interested in the Flower of the Holy Night and he brought it back to his home in South Carolina. It became very popular as a Christmas plant and was named after him.
PYRAMID
Before the Christmas tree, the Christmas pyramid was the most important decoration in Germany and much of northern Europe. It was a wooden framework in the shape of a pyrmid, decorated with greenery and ornaments. Gifts or food or a mager scene could be placed on its shelves. As the tree became more popular the functions of the pyramid were shifted to the tree.
REINDEER
Cute creatures and Santa must use some form of transport. If He comes from North, so why not reindeers, who can be saddled with various fabulous names as well. An American add-on to the story.
STAR
The astrological/astronomical phenomenon which triggered the travel of the Magi to give presents to child Jesus. Variously described as a supernova or a conjunction of planets it supposedly happened around the year 7 BC - the most probable true birth year of Christ. Star is often put to the top of the Christmas tree.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Traditional:
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge n a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. etc., etc.
In the middle ages, religious holidays were virtually the only holidays, so everyone was eager to extend such celebrations as long as possible. Christmas in particular was extended from a one day event to 12 days from Christmas Day to the Epiphany. In wealthy castles, a gift on each of the 12 days was quite common. This made "The Twelve Days of Christmas" a very popular song in anticipation of the gifts to come. It is not certain how old this carol is, but it probably dates back as far as the 16th century.
WASSAIL
The word wassail evelved from the old Anglo-Saxon term waes hael, which means be well or hale. The custom originated as a pagan agricultural festival. To help increase the yield of apple orchards, the trees must be saluted in the dead of winter. So at varying times during the twelve days of Christmas, a procession would visit selected trees from the various orchards and either sprinkle the wassail mixture or break a bottle of it against the trunk. The mixture used on the trees was not exact. It could be mulled ale or cider or wine with apples or eggs in it. Just so, the wassail bowl has never turned into a recipe, but is usually left ot the inspiration of the mixer.
YULE LOG
When Yule became Christmas, the yule log was divested of its religious connotations but none of its superstitions. The log must be obtained by the family itself, not bought from someone else. It had to be lighted with a piece of last year's Yule log. It must burn continuously for the twelve days of Christmas. If your shadow cast by the light of the Yule log fire seemed to be headless, you would die within one year. The log's ashes could cure ailments and avert lightning.
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