Histery of Christamas

Histery Of Christamas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is a holy religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.

For over two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices of religious and secular nature.

Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, whose teachings are the basis of their religion.

Popular practices include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing with family and friends, and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

December 25-Christmas Day - a federal holiday in the United States since 1870

How Did Christamas Start


Centuries before the arrival of the man known as Jesus, the early Europeans celebrated the light and birth of the darkest days of winter.

Many people rejoice during the winter solstice, when the worst of winter is behind them and they look forward to extending more days and sunshine.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated the winter solstice from December 21 until January.

In recognition of the return of the sun, the father and sons were bringing home a large log, which they had set on fire.

People were feasting until the log burned, which could take up to 12 days.

The Norse believed that every spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born in the coming year.

At that time of year, most cattle are slaughtered so they don't have to feed them in the winter.

For many, it was the only time of year they served fresh meat.

In addition, most of the wine and beer produced during the year was finally brewed and ready to drink.

In Germany, people paid homage to the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holidays.

The Germans were terrified of Oden because they made night flights through the sky to distract their people and then decide who would flourish or perish.

Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia

In Rome, the winter was not harsh in the far north, Saturnalia, a holiday in honor of the god of agriculture, Saturn.

Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hectic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the general Roman social system was turned upside down.

Business and schools were closed for everyone to join in the fun.

During the winter solstice, the Romans celebrated Juvenalia, a festival honoring the children of Rome.

Moreover, members of the upper classes frequently celebrated the birthday of the unbeatable sun god Mithra on December 25th.

For some Romans, Mitra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

Is Chrismas Really the Day Jesus Was Born ?

In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; Jesus' birth was not celebrated.

In the fourth century, church officials decided to establish the birth of Jesus as a holiday.

Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention their date of birth (as the Puritans later suggested, in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration).

Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why were the shepherds herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25.

It is generally believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the pagan Saturnalia festive traditions.

This practice, formerly known as the Feast of the Nativity, spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century.
By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread to Scandinavia.  Today, in Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 25 to 13 to 14 days later.  The reason Western churches use the Gregorian calendar is because Eastern churches use the Julian calendar, which is 13 to 14 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Both Western and Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany, or the Day of the Three Kings, 12 days after their own Christmas.  It is believed that this day the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger. 
By celebrating Christmas as a traditional winter solstice festivity, church leaders increased the likelihood that Christmas would be popular, but gave up on how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had largely replaced paganism. At Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere like today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student is crowned "lord of abuse," and eager celebrants take on the role of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If the owner fails to comply, their visitors will be terrified of mischief. Christmas is the time of year when the upper classes repay their real or imagined "debt" to the poor by appealing to less fortunate citizens.

When Christamas was canceled
In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday. The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

Washington Irving Reinvents Christamas

It was not until the 19th century that Americans began to accept Christmas. Americans have re-invented Christmas and turned it into a day of family-centered peace and nostalgia from a tough carnival holiday. But what sparked American interest in holidays in the 1800s? A period of class conflict and turmoil in the early 19th century. At this time, unemployment was high and mass riots by disaffected classes were occurring most of the time. In 1828, the New York City Council established the city's first police force in response to the Christmas riots. This has prompted some members of the upper class to change the way Christmas is celebrated in America. In 1819, bestselling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Creon, Gent., A series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in the English manor house. The drawings include a squire that invited the farmer to his home for the holidays. Contrary to the problems facing American society, the two groups blend seamlessly. In Irving's mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday that brings groups together throughout wealth or social status. Irving's fairytale rituals enjoyed "ancient practices" including the crown of the Lord of Misrule. However, Irving's book was not based on any holiday celebration he attended - in fact, many historians claim that Irving's account "invented" the tradition, which suggests that the.

A Christamas Carol

During this time, English author Charles Dickens has created a classic holiday story called A Christmas Carol. The message of the story — the importance of charity and good will toward all mankind — has generated a strong chord in the United States and England, and the benefits of celebrating the holiday to members of Victorian society. In the early 1800s the family became less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children. Christmas provided families with a day to focus on and give gifts to their children instead of “ruining” them. As Americans began to accept Christmas as the perfect family holiday, old habits were invented. People looked to recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day was going. Over the next 100 years, Americans built their own Christmas tradition, which included many pieces of clothing, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, and giving gifts. Although most families quickly bought into the idea of how Christmas has been celebrated for centuries, Americans have really re-invented the holiday to meet the cultural needs of a growing nation.

Who Invented Santa Clause ?














Today, in Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 25 to 13 to 14 days later.

The reason Western churches use the Gregorian calendar is because Eastern churches use the Julian calendar, which is 13 to 14 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

Both Western and Eastern churches celebrate Epiphany, or the Day of the Three Kings, 12 days after their own Christmas.

It is believed that this day the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.

In 1822, Episcopal Minister Clement Clark Moore wrote a Christmas poem, "The Visit from St. Nicholas," which is more popularly known today: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." The poem depicts Santa Claus traveling from house to house in a reindeer sled to deliver a toy.

When the political cartoonist Thomas Nast Moore painted the poem in 1881, Santa Claus became immortalized as a red-haired jolly man with a white beard and a bag of toys to create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today.

Christmas facts


Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are over 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and the trees grow for about 15 years before being sold.
Today, in Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 25 to 13 to 14 days later. While Western churches use the Gregorian calendar, Eastern churches use the Julian calendar.
In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and grim, like today's Mardi Gras parties.
When Christmas was canceled: From 1659 to 1681, Christmas celebrations were banned in Boston, and violators were fined five shillings.
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
The first agnag made in the United States was consumed in the 1607 Jamestown colony by Captain John Smith.

Joel R., the American minister for Mexico. The poinsettia plants, named after Poinsett, were brought to America from Mexico in 1828 by the Red and Green.
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donors to the streets since the 1890s.
"The Most Famous Reindeer of All" by Rudolph, 1939 May is the product of his imagination. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help draw customers to the Montgomery Ward department store.
Construction workers began the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition in 1931