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Yeah, I know it's pretty early for this, but I just happen to have this article I wrote last Christmas, and thought, might as well put it up now. Ya know anything more? Tell me, and I'll add it.




One of the most celebrated and cherished days of the year now is Christmas. It has been celebrated in different ways for centuries, even millennia. Christmas has many meanings, whether its celebrating life, the birth of Christ, the coming of Santa, or just the spirit of Christmas.

Many cultures revered December 25th long before the Christians did. Long ago, the ancestors of the Europeans around this time of the year celebrated life. Winter was a harsh season that seemed to restart the life cycle and bring new life after it left. A common symbol became the Christmas tree, because people saw that the pine tree stayed green and lively in the coldest months of the year, while all else around it died. Having no understanding of how this worked, they saw it as almost unnatural and mystique. And now, we have what we call the Christmas tree.

The Babylonians celebrated the feast of the Son of Isis on December 25th, marked by partying, feasting, and gift giving.

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, after their God of Agriculture. They celebrated the triumph of life over death. They also created the tradition of Mummers, which were groups of costumed singers and dancers that traveled from house to house entertaining. From this, we get the tradition of caroling.

Also around this time of the year, Pagans celebrated the growth of their Sun God, which they associated with the lengthening of the days after the Winter Solstice. They called this Yule.

All of these early cultures and many others contributed to what we now call Christmas. In the year 0, the Christian religion says the messiah was born. On this day now, the world rejoices as it did then. The Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday on December 25th, but was Jesus really born on that day? Probably not. The Biblical descriptions depict shepherds tending their sheep in the fields that night, which would be ridiculous on December 25th! Most historians agree that Jesus’ birth probably occurred in September. Then why do we celebrate it on December 25th?

The answer is because of the Pagans. Or rather, because of Christianity’s influences on the Pagans. In the year 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christmas would be celebrated on December 25th. At the time, he was trying to convert the Pagans to Christianity, and moving Christmas to the date of the Pagans’ Yule was an attempt to convince them. Now, the two have merged, and “Yuletide” is often synonymous with Christmas.

Hence Jesus’ birth is celebrated on December 25th.

Now, on Christmas, we set up ornaments, decorate a Christmas tree, give presents, and watch for the coming of a jolly old man named Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas, as his true name was, was born in the 3rd century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. He was born to wealthy parents and was a devout Christian. When his parents died in an epidemic, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to help those in need. As a young man, he became Bishop of Myra. He was known for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

He died on December 6, AD 343, and was named the patron saint of children and sailors. The anniversary of his death became know as St. Nicholas Day.

The name Saint Nicholas was eventually warped to Santa Claus. How can “Saint Nicholas” possibly change to “Santa Claus”? Well, the German name for Saint Nicholas is “Sant Niklaus”, and the nickname for “Niklaus” is “Klaus”. “Sant Klaus” eventually became “Santa Claus”.

Today’s image of Santa Claus as a red-suited, jolly man, comes from a cartoonist and caricaturist named Thomas Nast. One of the most famous cartoonists of the 19th century, he created a classic version of Santa Claus in 1863 for Harper’s Weekly. This image was made incredibly famous by Coca-Cola, which used it to promote their product.

And to this day, Christmas is both the time we celebrate the birth of Christ and the coming of jolly old Santa Claus.

*sigh*
This is in my second paragraph:
A common symbol became the Christmas tree, because people saw that the pine tree stayed green and lively in the coldest months of the year, while all else around it died. Having no understanding of how this worked, they saw it as almost unnatural and mystique. And now, we have what we call the Christmas tree.

>_>

we of the knowledge forum hate links... summarize.. and give us something... although.. kumar did that already confused

i at *least* speak for myself

*brings out the jazz hands* MAGIC!

that also depends on how wide the chimney is.. they make big chimneys nowadayz

I know that, but I think you should mention how it was introduced into Christianity in different countries. (For example, by the royal family in Britain.) It would be interesting to mention.

he has been working out you know xp