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And it was not until Pope Julius I decreed that this was to be recognised as the date of Christ’s birth in 320 AD that it was recognised as such. |
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December 25 had previously been celebrated as the Festival of the Sun’s Birth, coming just a few days after the winter solstice on December 21, which had been celebrated by pagans for many centuries previously. |
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Is Boxing Day for fighting? |
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The roots of the name Boxing Day date back to medieval times when money was collected in alms-boxes throughout the festive season. On St Stephen’s Day (December 26), this money was then distributed to the poor from the box; hence the name! In wealthier houses, the nobility would give a monetary gift to their staff to thank them for their work over the year. This was put into small boxes so that the servants would not know how much had been given to their colleagues, enabling different rewards for more valued staff. |
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The Origin of Santa Claus |
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St Nicholas was a 4th century Turkish bishop, who would often go out in his red- and-white bishop’s robes to distribute food and money to the needy. His feast day is December 6, and was widely celebrated in medieval times. However, it was not until after the Reformation that he was linked to Christmas, when the Santa Claus story became very popular. The modern image of Santa in a fur-lined suit and big black belt was created by a cartoonist called Thomas Nast during the American Civil War as a propaganda tool for the union troops. |
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Decorating trees |
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| This tradition was brought from Germany, Strasbourg, to Pennsylvania in the US in the middle of the 19th century. In 16th-century Germany, fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies and coloured paper. In the Middle Ages, a popular religious play depicted the story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. |
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Swap Hedex for Ilex |
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| The Romans used to wrap ivy around their heads, as they believed that this would alleviate their headaches. |
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Mistletoe |
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| This 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. |
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‘Sweet’ trees |
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It was not long after Europeans began using Christmas trees that special decorations were used to adorn them. Food items, such as candies and cookies, were used predominately and straight white candy sticks were one of the confections used as ornamentation. Legend has it that during the 17th century, craftsmen created the white sticks of candy in the shape of shepherds’ crooks at the suggestion of the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. |
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The candy treats were given to children to keep them quiet during ceremonies at the living creche, or Nativity scene, and the custom of passing out the candy crooks at such ceremonies soon spread throughout Europe. |
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Christmas cards |
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| A form of the Christmas card began in England first when young boys practised their writing skills by creating Christmas greetings for their parents, but it is Sir Henry Cole who is credited with creating the first real Christmas card. The first director of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Henry, found himself too busy in the Christmas season of 1843 to compose individual Christmas greetings for his friends.
He commissioned artist John Calcott Horsley for the illustration. The card featured three panels, with the centre panel depicting a family enjoying Christmas festivities and the card was inscrsibed with the message ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.’ |
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| Courtesy : Web |
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