To commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, people celebrate Christmas. It’s critical to comprehend the origins and significance of the Christmas customs, since doing so helps us fully appreciate their rich history and significance. The intriguing histories of well-known Christmas customs are examined in this article.
Here are some of the popular Christmas traditions:
1. Red and green
Red and green décor or apparel come to mind frequently when we think of Christmas. Research indicates that the holly plant is the source of the Christmastime associations with the colors red and green. The vibrant green leaves and crimson berries of Holly plants are well-known.
The holly tree is now a Christmas symbol used by Christians. The berries stand in for Christ’s blood, while the spiky leaves are supposed to symbolize the crown of thorns that Christ wore. Holly is a plant that blooms in the winter and could be one of the rare glimpses of green in the area. Red and green, which stand for the coziness and happiness of the season, have been a staple of Christmas customs, décor, and iconography for a long time.
2. Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas, a third-century Christian saint renowned for his generosity and kindness, served as Santa Claus’ primary source of inspiration. He also liked to sneak presents to children. Later on, he rose to fame as a folk hero in the area, and throughout the ages, tales about him developed into complex myths and legends. Various traditions and tales came together over time to form the contemporary perception of Santa Claus that we are familiar with today.
The legend of St. Nicholas was embellished and given new meanings by many nations and peoples with every tale they told.
With the passage of time, these characters lost all resemblance to the real St. Nicholas and evolved into whole other beings.
Currently, folktales from various nations throughout the world describe numerous iterations of a character inspired by St. Nicholas who brings gifts to kids on Christmas.
3. Santa’s elves
Legend has it that elves were little, pointy-eared creatures that resembled dwarfs and guarded the good against the evil. To assist Santa Claus, the fabled Christmas figure, at his workshop, they remain at the North Pole. These were young, magical beings of both sexes, dressed in green and red clothing with pointed hats. They have keen ears and long nostrils.
These elves helped Santa create toys for nice kids all throughout the world while they toiled in his workshop. In addition to tending to Santa’s reindeer and carriage, the elves were also responsible for helping him in his workshop.
4. Santa’s reindeer
Since the publication of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore in 1823, reindeer have been associated with pulling Santa’s sleigh. Because of their natural home in the bitterly cold Arctic, reindeer have developed special adaptations that enable them to survive in these hostile conditions and make them the ideal helpers for Santa. Depending on the season, their hooves can expand or contract. On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus is rumored to use his reindeer to draw a sleigh over the night sky in order to give gifts to children.
5. Christmas stockings
The original Saint Nicholas is credited with starting this custom by putting gold money in the stockings of three impoverished sisters. The girls once placed their stockings over the fireplace to dry. Knowing the family’s extreme poverty, Saint Nicholas threw three sacks of gold coins down the chimney. The cash fell into the stockings of the sisters. Since then, it has become customary for kids to put up their Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve in the hopes that they will be filled with presents when they wake up. This is accompanied by the thrill and expectation of getting gifts.
6. Christmas trees
One of the most beloved customs is the Christmas tree. A lovely evergreen tree is brought inside, decorated with garlands, lights, and other trinkets. Frequently, families congregate around the tree to share presents. The custom of using trees to decorate buildings in the winter dates back to the ancient Romans and Egyptians, who frequently utilized trees to enhance the beauty of their temples and shrines.
On the other hand, German medieval customs are credited with inspiring the present Christmas tree. On December 24, Germans would adorn a tree in their homes in observance of Adam and Eve’s feast day. With time, these trees would also be utilized to commemorate the Christmas birth of Jesus. Real or artificial, a gorgeously decked Christmas tree is frequently seen within a lavishly decorated home, ready for St. Nick to place great gifts—or a pair of socks—beneath it.
7. Presents
Santa Claus, the “descendant” of St. Nicholas, gives gifts to children because St. Nicholas was famed for doing so. Giving gifts has its origins in wintertime pagan ceremonies as well. The rationale for bringing presents was shifted to the Three Wise Men, or Magi, who bestowed gifts onto the infant Jesus when Christianity included these customs into Christmas. The popularity of Santa Claus and the commercialization of Christmas appear to have contributed to the strengthening and encouragement of the modern tradition of distributing gifts at Christmas.
8. Christmas Carol
When the Christian Church was just getting started and declared Christmas to be the official celebration of the birth of Christ in the fourth century, it took pagan customs and used them as the basis for carols. These were not the Christmas carols that were originally sung thousands of years ago in Europe. These songs, which were sung during the Winter Solstice celebrations, were pre-Christian or pagan. The Winter Solstice, which falls on or around December 22, is the shortest day of the year. When Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus, began to be observed concurrently with the solstice, early Christians began singing Christian hymns rather than pagan or pre-Christian tunes.
9. Christmas bells
It would be impossible to discuss the sounds of Christmas without bringing up Christmas bells. There have always been several reasons why bells are rung. Since ancient times, ringing bells has been a significant component of Christmas celebrations. In the past, bells have been rung to herald the start of the Christmas season in addition to providing music and a festive atmosphere. They may represent the proclamation of Christ’s birth. The clothing worn by Jewish high priests also included bells. Christmas bells serve as a reminder that Christ is the High Priest in addition to representing the joy of the season.
Christmas bells are heard in every American home that celebrates the holiday, and they are seen atop many Christmas trees and on light posts that illuminate the streets at night.
10. Boxing Day
Boxing Day, which falls on December 26, is a holiday observed following Christmas Day. Boxing Day originated during the reign of Queen Victoria. The wealthy would package up things they no longer required and offer them to the underprivileged in Victorian times. On this day, employees would receive time off in addition to a “special box” full with delicacies as a thank you for their hard work.
According to some stories, a lot of people think that Boxing Day originated in churches during the Middle Ages when congregants would gather money for the underprivileged. This was done on December 26, the feast day of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
