Christmas is a marvelous ad-mixture of traditions from ancient and modern times, and from many varied civilizations. Much that we associate with the celebration of Christmas actually predates the birth of Christ.

Early Christians did not observe the time of Jesus’ birth since the date was not known. Instead, their most meaningful celebration was Easter, Christ’s resurrection. Only during the fourth century, as the church developed a calendar of the important days of his life did Christ’s birth date become important.

Since it was the intent of the Roman Catholic Church (catholic means "universal") to converge all religions into one, assimilation as opposed to eradication of pagan customs was the rule.

The most important of all pagan celebrations was the time of the Winter Solstice. This was the shortest day of the year and heralded the rebirth of the sun, promising longer and warmer days to come. It was a time of merry-making, gift giving, decorating trees and homes and the lighting of fires to honor the Sun God. Observance of the Winter Solstice was a custom of such varied peoples as the Egyptians, Chinese, Hebrews, and Celts. As early as 1200 BC the Druids, Vikings and other Northern European peoples celebrated the Yule, which derived its name from the month of "Jol", now December. Trees were decorated with fruits, nuts, and bits of cloth both as an offering to the Gods and food for the birds.

In 336 AD, Pope Julius I chose December 25 as the First Christmas, both to counteract the pagan celebrations and to place Christ’s birth at the most important and happiest time of the year. The Romans had observed the festival of "The Invincible Sun" on December 25th since 274 AD, under Emperor Aurelian. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite churches had chosen January 6 as the day of Epiphany, or "appearance" celebrating Christ’s manifestation, and in 500 AD, Pope Gregory I, declared that December 25 was Christ’s actual birth date.

Eventually Eastern and Western churches adopted each other’s festivals creating the 12 days of Christmas from the 25th through the Epiphany.

The word Christmas is derived from the Old English term "Christes maesse", meaning Christ Mass. Once December 25 was established as the Christ Mass, other pagan traditions were slowly incorporated into the Christmas tradition.

By the Middle Ages, the pagan custom of decorating a tree began to appear in Christian "mystery plays" that were used to teach the illiterate peoples about the Bible. It is believed that the first Christmas Tree was actually a Fir decorated with apples and used as a prop in one of these plays. The tree symbolized the Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden.

During this time, German families set up a Paradise tree in their home on Christmas Eve, also the feast of Adam and Eve. The tree was decorated with wafers that symbolized the body of Christ. On Christmas, candles were placed on the tree to symbolize Christ as the light of the world.

Another story attributes the first Christmas Tree to Martin Luther in the 15th century, who brought a decorated tree into the home as a symbol of Christ’s birth.

Most likely, the custom of bringing an evergreen into the home was carried over by the Germanic peoples as they were converted to Christianity. The ancient ritual of the Yule Tree brought an evergreen into the home for the Winter Solstice. Later the branches were removed and the pole was used as the May Pole on May 1 to celebrate the time when plants were in full growth and in harmony with nature. The pole was then cut up and the largest log was saved until next year to be the Yule Log that lit the first seasonal fires.

As German colonists arrived in America in the 19th century, they brought their customs with them. In England, Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, established the custom when he had a tree placed in Windsor Castle.

The tradition of homes, barns, and temples being decorated with evergreen represented a "living" plant during the time of "death". The evergreen, holly and mistletoe, which bloomed during the winter, were considered magical and protectors from evil. In warmer climates, flowers were also used as decorations. The prickly leaves of Holly came to symbolize The Crown Of Thorns; its vines, Immortality; its berries, the Blood of Christ. Evergreens & wreaths were used to decorate altars and Christian temples.

It was because of these pagan origins that the Puritans tried to outlaw Christmas and its customs when they came to power in England in the 17th Century. Their influence also carried over to the American colonies and remained until the 1800’s. However, their attempt to eliminate Christmas and its joyous customs failed and quite possibly led to their own diminishing influence.

Dutch colonists introduced Sinter Claes to America where he became known as Santa Claus. Santa is the mythicized descendent of St. Nicholas who was the Bishop of Lycia (now part of Turkey) around 350 AD. Nicholas was noted for his compassion and generosity and was later sainted by the Roman Catholic Church. He is the patron saint of Russia and Greece, as well as children and sailors. The feast day for St. Nicholas was December 6 and was a time of gift giving to children of the poor. This tradition remains in some countries. His transformation into the secular Santa Claus began in Germany when the Protestant churches began associating him with Christmas and gift giving. There he was known as Kris Kringle. The custom traveled first to France where he was known as Pere Noel. In England he was Father Christmas and in Russia, Grandfather Frost.

Christmas Carols originated in France around 1300 AD, were sometimes rather bawdy and frowned upon by the clergy. It was not until the 18th century (after cleaning up its act) that caroling was allowed inside the church and it became a popular tradition. The term carol means a song or hymn associated with Christmas.

Sweets, cookies, and hand made ornaments eventually replaced candles and wafers as tree decorations. Glass Christmas tree ornaments were popularized when the Germans learned the ancient Egyptian art of glass blowing from Venetian traders.

John Horsley in England designed the first Christmas card in 1843 for a friend, Sir Henry Cole. The design showed a family drinking wine with the words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." Before that time it was an English custom to send Christmas letters written on fancy paper. The practice is most popular in the United States.

Each family celebrates Christmas in its own unique way. It is a time of new beginnings as well as a time of honoring the past. As the sun renews itself, we too can renew our convictions and beliefs.

For further reading on Christmas we recommend the following books:

The Evolution of the Christian Year by Alexander McArthur

Christmas Customs and Traditions by C.A. Miles

Christmas Treevia by D. Peter Harrington

Christmas Customs Around the World by Herbert Wernecke