The History of Christmas

You may be wondering what I could possibly say about the history of Christmas. I mean, Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth. We know that. He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life on earth, died a cruel death on the cross, resurrected from the grave three days later, and ascended into heaven. He gave us redemption and the opportunity to choose eternal life. “The contrast between the birth’s commonness and the child’s greatness could not be greater. The promised one of God enters creation among the creation.” (IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

But let’s delve into some interesting historical facts, shall we?

Way back when . . .

Christmas was not celebrated outside of the Christian church for eighteen centuries. Only in the past 200 years has Christmas gained popularity in the secular world. Today, it is the most celebrated holiday in the world. Even non-Christian religions practice some Christmas traditions, including gift-giving and Christmas music.

The word “Christmas” is a shortened form of “Christ’s mass.” There is no mention of Christmas in the Bible. Though it is uncertain when it was first celebrated, a Roman bishop decreed the singing of hymns in the year 129 A.D., commemorating Christ’s birth. The first recorded Christmas celebration dates back to the Romans in 336. The holiday became more widespread after the Roman Emperor Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800 A.D. The emperor desired to spread Christian traditions throughout Europe after using Christianity to unite much of Europe.

The date of December 25 for Christmas is debatable. (Many scholars believe Christ was born in the spring.) Nonetheless, December 25 was associated with the pagan winter solstice holiday called Saturnalia. It was chosen intentionally with the thought that it would be more palatable for ordinary Roman citizens to convert to Christianity.

The Protestant Reformation introduced controversy about how Christmas should be celebrated. Orthodox churches (e.g., Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican) placed emphasis on ritual. Protestant churches rejected the idea of festivals, feeling as if festivals were contrary to core Christian beliefs. Therefore, some communities had festive celebrations; others observed it as a strictly religious holiday.

In 1645, Christmas celebrations were outlawed by the English and American Puritans. Opposition to celebrating Christmas with decorated trees was made a criminal offense in England and isolated American colonies.

Things began to change in the 1800s with the publication of literary works such as “The Keeping of Christmas at Bracebridge Hall” by American author Washington Irving and “A Christmas Carol” by English author Charles Dickens. Americans took to Irving’s fictional ideas of celebrating the holiday by coming together. They added their own traditions, borrowing from other countries, such as bringing nativity scenes into the home.

How about this cool fact? Alabama was the first state to make Christmas a legal holiday in 1836. Christmas was later deemed a federal holiday in 1870, with all states adopting it. Maybe legalization helped promote post-Civil War unity; maybe not. Who knows?

Where did the idea of Santa come from?

In the third century, a man known as Saint Nicholas gained the reputation as a protector of children. St. Nicholas was a religious figure who traveled throughout Turkey, helping the poor. He left children secret gifts to brighten their spirits.

The deeds of St. Nicholas did not become famous until literary works made their impact. This time, it was Washington Irving’s book “A History of New York.” He described a St. Nicholas-like character who flew above the city. But it was Clement Clarke Moore’s poem in 1822 titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”) that referenced a sleigh, a bag of toys, and the entrance of the saint through the chimney. More embellishments were given to the kind-hearted soul through drawings and illustrations. The retail market jumped on Santa’s sleigh in a big way, flashing his image throughout every mall in America.

Oh, the Changes

Christmas has become more commercialized through the years. I saw merchandise popping up before Halloween in Walmart this year! Some groups have pushed to eliminate religious references altogether, especially in the public sphere. The idea is tolerance for all, but what it is is an intolerant attack on religion.

As believers, we can stand up to this movement by refusing to yield to social pressure and embracing the religious aspects of Christmas. Set up the nativity, read the Christmas story in Luke, offer goodwill to a stranger, sing Christmas carols. Glory to the newborn king! Happy birthday, Jesus.

Information compiled from the following resources: AMAC Magazine, Volume 15, Issue 6; www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/now-i-get-it-the-story-of-santa-claus; The Alabama Baptist newspaper, December 14, 2023;  The IVP New Testament Commentary Series – Bible Gateway.