The History of Christmas
The history of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ but Christmas was actually a pagan holiday celebrated by the Mesopotamians, early Europeans, Greeks and Romans.
Christmas in America
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, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution. Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday?
The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.
Before the Civil War
The North and South were divided on the issue of Christmas, as well as on the question of slavery. Many Northerners saw sin in the celebration of Christmas; to these people the celebration of Thanksgiving was more appropriate. But in the South, Christmas was an important part of the social season. Not surprisingly, the first three states to make Christmas a legal holiday were in the South: Alabama in 1836, Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838.
In the years after the Civil War, Christmas traditions spread across the country. Children's books played an important role in spreading the customs of celebrating Christmas, especially the tradition of trimmed trees and gifts delivered by Santa Claus. Sunday school classes encouraged the celebration of Christmas. Women's magazines were also very important in suggesting ways to decorate for the holidays, as well as how to make these decorations.
By the last quarter of the nineteenth century, America eagerly decorated trees, caroled, baked, and shopped for the Christmas season. Since that time, materialism, media, advertising, and mass marketing has made Christmas what it is today. The traditions that we enjoy at Christmas today were invented by blending together customs from many different countries into what is considered by many to be our national holiday.
Why do we have Christmas trees?
The Christmas tree is part of a long tradition that evergreen trees represent the continuous nature of life, even in the cold of winter. The Germans were among the earliest Christians to adopt the use of decorated trees.
What does the Bible say about Christmas?
The Bible doesn't say anything about the celebration of the birth of Christ or of holding a festival or commemorating it in any way, but it does tell the story of his birth. Technically, there are many traditions that have been introduced into Christianity from the many traditions of old European religions.
Who invented Christmas Day?
The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later, Pope Julius the First officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December.
Kathryn Smith, CDIA+ has been in the business of document and information services and systems since 1988.
She is the founder and owner of Advanced Imaging Solutions, Inc.
kathrynsmith@advancedimagingsolutions.com
www.advancedimagingsolutions.com
