What do we envisage when we think of Christmas?
It is of course first and foremost a religious Christian celebration, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. For others without the religious penchant, Christmas brings a special time of sharing with family and friends.
One thing however is for sure; Christmas is a time for enjoying age old traditions such as decorating the tree and tucking into Christmas dinner. But where did these festive traditions come from? Here we explore some of the most popular seasonal customs:
The Date
25th December: the day Jesus was born - allegedly. However, it is said that the real birth of Christ is more likely to have been in springtime. So why do we celebrate Christmas in mid- winter? One reason stems from the fourth century when Christians began celebrating Christmas in December because this was conveniently the time when pagans were observing the winter solstice, a time for new beginnings that evoked good spirit and family gatherings.
Oh Christmas tree!
How we enjoy putting up the tree and adorning it with glittering decorations! The Christmas tree can be traced back to 16th century Germany from which point it spread across Europe. However in Britain it wasn’t until Queen Victoria and Prince Albert erected the first British Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1850 that it started to become a popular tradition.
Father Christmas
Father Christmas is thought to be the ghost of Saint Nicholas who was said to spend the eve of Christmas day delivering gifts to the poor. The modern portrayal of Father Christmas as a rotund, red-cheeked man wearing a red suit trimmed with white fur became popular in America in the 19th century due to cartoon-style advertising campaigns featuring Santa Claus. Various myths are attached to our jovial friend such as the airborne reindeer-led sleigh; the down-the-chimney tale and of course the legend of the endless sack of presents. These stories vary between countries, each having its own take.
Christmas Dinner
Henry the VIII was the first in England to tuck into a turkey Christmas dinner. However, even by the start of the Victorian era this bird was still considered too expensive for most everyday people to enjoy. In northern England the traditional choice for Christmas dinner was roast beef whilst in the south the favourite was goose, or rabbit for those who couldn’t afford it. Turkey had become an affordable choice by the end of the 19th century and the trimmings: Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and roast potatoes; followed soon after to make up the Christmas dinner in which we indulge with paper hat and crackers today.
Christmas is a time for bringing the family together; a time for indulging in traditions and the excitement that goes with them. The fact that the things we observe today go way back in history and the thought that generations of our ancestors were celebrating the very things we are enjoying today makes them even more poignant.
