All readers will be familiar with the story of the Nativity, but what about the other things for which this time of the year has become known?
By BNP News Team
As Christmas draws nearer once again, it is worthwhile to consider the origin and meaning of this celebration which has become deeply ingrained in our national psyche. All readers will be familiar with the story of the Nativity, but what about the other things for which this time of the year has become known?
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2570: Not many people know that Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name ‘Santa Claus’ which comes from the Dutch* ‘Sinterklaas’. Nicholas was a Greek Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD.
He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children’s stockings.
Christmas Cards: The custom of sending Christmas cards started in 1840 when the first ‘Penny Post’ public postal deliveries began. As printing methods improved, Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860. They became even more popular when a card could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one half-penny – half the price of an ordinary letter.Christmas Day: Although there is no evidence that Christ was actually born on Christmas Day, the prevalence of the pagan Winter Solstice festivals centred around 21 December were absorbed into the Christian calendar to mark the events in the Bible.
The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after the Frankish King Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800. Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (26 December – 6 January).
Other Names: The word Christmas originated as a contraction of “Christ’s mass”. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse. Since the mid-16th century, the Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ. Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.
After the conversion to Christianity of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol, the name of the pre-Christian solstice festival from which the current English word ‘Yule’ is derived. Yule was a pagan Northern European tradition which was centred around gift giving, the “burning Yule log” and other symbols which have long since been incorporated into the celebration we have today.
The Christmas Tree: The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship. The English language phrase “Christmas tree” is first recorded in 1835, and represents an importation from the German language.
The modern Christmas tree tradition was introduced to England, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Boxing Day: In English-speaking countries, the day following Christmas Day is called ‘Boxing Day’. This word comes from the custom which started in the Middle Ages around 800 years ago: churches would open their ‘alms boxe’ (boxes in which people had placed gifts of money) and distribute the contents to poor people in the neighbourhood on the day after Christmas. The tradition continues today – small gifts are often given to delivery workers such as postal staff and children who deliver newspapers.
Whatever the origins, and whatever your beliefs, the BNP wishes you and your loved ones the very best over this season. May we all be filled with the spirit of Christmas, of love, forgiveness, peace and joy.
* Part of the reason St. Nick is called Santa Claus in the United States is because of the overlooked Dutch influence on US development. The Dutch colony in what is now New York state and New Jersey lasted from 1614 to 1674 and was called New Netherland. Their main town was New Amsterdam, which is now New York City. As a nod to the Dutch origins of the city, which still has Dutch place names like Harlem, Brooklyn, Coney Island, Staten Island, Flushing and the Bronx, St. Nicholas was declared patron saint in 1809. (Among other contributions to America by the Dutch are a number of Presidents, Martin Van Buren and the Roosevelts.)