A Short Lesson on Christmas History
How Christmas history has evolved over the years
Christmas history is rich in tradition derived from a variety of cultures.
Laura Legend loves Christmas history…
Many ancient traditions and festivals have contributed to Christmas history which is widely recognized as a Christian tradition for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Prior to the establishment of the Christmas holiday, Europeans celebrated Winter Solstice which was a festive occasion for looking forward to longer days with more sunlight.
Festivities and feasts of Winter Solstice celebrations carried on influencing celebrations throughout Christmas history. The Yule log and feast recognized as a tradition in various cultures is a bit of Christmas history contributed by the Norse of Scandinavia.
Looking back through Christmas history it is apparent that the practice of bringing fir trees into homes and decorating them originated in Germany.
Christmas history is shared by many different countries and cultures though the traditions vary from place to place. There are many cultural versions of St. Nicholas who was a prominent contributor to Christmas history.
As legend holds, St. Nicholas was a Catholic bishop in Myra, modern day Turkey. He was known and appreciated for his generous gift giving. Prior to the celebration of Christmas as we know it, St. Nicholas Day was celebrated in memory of the renowned St. Nicholas. Eventually honoring St. Nicholas became associated with Christmas history developing into the myth of Santa Clause who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
Though Christmas history has many cultural and religious influences that make Christmas festivities similar to other celebrations throughout the ages, the true purpose of the Christian holiday is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Virgin Mary’s delivery of the son of God, Jesus Christ, in the Bethlehem manger is the most significant even in Christmas history.