Elsie UdohIt’s the season again when almost everybody gets to take a break, dress up in colourful clothes (mostly reds and whites), eat plenty of Jollof rice and big chicken, exchange gifts, and be merry. This can be a very exciting time but amidst the excitement, have you ever wondered where or when it all began?
For many, the Christmas celebration is an “ancestral heirloom,” one that is simply passed down from generation to generation. But then, we’re here to keep you informed and so we did some digging to know the actual origin of Christmas and other things associated with it like Santa Claus, among others.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSo sit tight and let’s start the exciting read about all you need to know about Christmas—the most wonderful time of the year.
When Did Christmas Begin?
Well, the name itself might give a clue after all; it says, “Christ-Mas(s).” But no, Christmas definitely did not start as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
There’s a unique story to the origin of Christmas.
So, before the 4th century, December 25 used to be a special day, except that it wasn’t Christians’s special day. Instead, during the end of the year, particularly from December 17, the Roman festival of Saturnalia, a week-long period of feasting and merrymaking, was done to celebrate the god of agriculture, Saturn.
Also on December 25, Roman emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) and this was widely celebrated by the Romans. During this time, the people exchanged gifts and celebrated the return of longer days after the winter solstice.
Well, this continued until Christianity was introduced in Rome and the church was established. Now with the introduction of Christianity came a bigger challenge—how to convert the Romans from pagan worship to Christianity.
The solution to the challenge, however, was found in a festival that the Romans were fond of—the December 25th Roman festival of Saturnalia.
Since the Romans were strongly rooted in their beliefs, the Christian church deliberately chose to celebrate the birth of Christ on the same day to spread Christianity throughout the Roman empire. The idea behind this was simple: If Christmas looked like a pagan holiday, more pagans would be open to both the holiday and the God whose birth it celebrated.
Well, this worked as Christmas became accepted by the Romans and became a major festival in the 9th century.
Now that’s one part of the story. How about the popular Santa Claus, the 12 days of Christmas (wait, you thought it was just a song?) and other Christmas traditions that we’re used to? Well, there’s a story to that as well—one that we are here to tell.
Where Did Santa Claus Come From?
Every Christmas, many children are always excited about the jolly man in a red suit who comes bearing lots of gifts. But like Christmas, Santa Claus wasn’t always there. So where did he suddenly come from?
Well, the legend of Santa Claus can be traced to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey). Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness as a protector of children and sailors.
He gave away all of his inherited wealth and travelled the countryside, helping the less-privileged and sick. The best tale ever told about Saint Nicholas was that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married.
Over time, Saint Nicholas was morphed into Santa. The name Santa Claus itself is from his name, “Saint Nicholas.” An 1823 poem by Clement Clarke Moore titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (“’Twas the Night Before Christmas”) featured the picture of Santa Claus as we know him today and this has become widely used since then.
It would interest you to know that even the Coca-Cola Company played a part in cementing Santa’s image in the 20th century.
They portrayed him in their holiday advertisements as the cheerful, red-suited character that we know of today.
The Tradition of Christmas Trees
There’s still much to say about the origin of Christmas and now let’s look at the Christmas tree, which is a staple Christmas tradition. By now, most homes and business places have Christmas trees mounted, well-lit, and decorated.
The origin of the Christmas tree predates even Christmas itself. Let’s go back to the Roman festival that was celebrated on December 25. During this festival, evergreens were used to ward off evil spirits and illnesses. In ancient Egypt, it is also believed that evergreen trees were brought into homes as a winter tradition to honour Ra, the sun god, and symbolise the return of spring.
It is perhaps from these rituals that the idea of the Christmas tree stemmed from and during the Middle Ages, the first documented Christmas tree was mounted in Germany in the 16th century.
The Germans not only brought trees into their homes but also decorated them.
The Christmas tree tradition became popular in Britain in the 1840s and 1850s by Queen Victoria, whose mother was German and Prince Albert, who was depicted in illustrations celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree.
Quick Fact: Martin Luther is often credited with adding lights to the tree to mimic the stars and that’s where placing a starlight at the top of a Christmas tree started from.
The Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas
This has its roots in Scandinavia, where the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, which is the winter solstice, to January.
To recognise the return of the sun, the people would set a fire and feast until the log burnt out, which could take as many as 12 days.
In Christian theology, the 12 days of Christmas are the period between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi (the three wise men). It begins on December 25 and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings’ Day).
READ ALSO: 10 Christmas Traditions That Bring Us Together Every December
Other Popular Christmas Traditions
Over time, Christmas traditions have extended beyond Santa Claus and Christmas trees. Many traditions have sprung up to make the period a magical time. These include:
- Exchanging Gifts
Well, remember that we mentioned how the Roman festival was a time of merriment and exchanging gifts? This was brought into the Christmas celebration as well. However, if there’s a biblical connection to this, then it is linked to the Magi, or wise men, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus.
- Christmas Carols
The first Christmas hymns were sung in the 4th century and since then, they have evolved from solemn hymns to cheerful songs like “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “O Holy Night” used for carol nights and Christmas parties.
- Feasting
Christmas in Nigeria is not complete without Jollof rice, fried rice, chicken, and goat meat. Other countries also have their staple meals that are shared and enjoyed during Christmas.
- Mistletoe and Holly
These plants were seen as having magical properties by the Druids and were hung during Saturnalia and used in rituals to bring fertility, protection, and good luck.
The popular “kissing under the mistletoe” began when Balder, the god of light, was murdered by a mistletoe. Then his mother, Frigg, declared the mistletoe a symbol of love and vowed to kiss anyone who passed beneath it.
This custom later became popular in the Victorian era to symbolise goodwill and romance. For Christmas, these plants are used as symbols of love and protection.
- Giving Back
Christmas is also a time for kindness and charity, where many people and organisations provide food, clothing, and gifts to the less fortunate.
When is Christmas Celebrated in Every Country?
You might wonder why we’re bringing this question up when we just explained how December 25th was transformed into Christmas.
Well, this is because not every country celebrates Christmas on December 25. For instance:
- In Eastern Orthodox countries like Georgia, Belarus, Russia, and Serbia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7. This is because these countries use the Julian calendar for liturgical observances.
- The Armenian Orthodox Church in Türkiye celebrates Christmas on January 6 to commemorate the baptism of Jesus.
- Coptic Christians in Egypt have a 43-day fast that ends on January 7, when the Christmas celebration is held.
- Mongolia doesn’t even celebrate Christmas as it is a Buddhist country. Instead, they celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Why is Christmas called Xmas?
When it comes to Christmas, it seems, perhaps, that everything relating to it has a story. But this one is pretty brief.
The “X” in “Xmas” comes from the Greek letter “Chi,” which is the first letter of “Christ.” So Xmas is simply removing “Christ” from “Christmas,” which is actually still present in “X-Mas.”
Conclusion
Now the next time anybody asks you about the origin of Christmas, we expect that you can now give a clear answer based on the history that you have learnt today.
Whatever you’ll be doing this season, have a well-informed holiday and make the best of every moment.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lagos State University.
