Christmas Traditions
Santa Claus
The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with Saint Nicolas, Bishop of Myra, an region in Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholas was a generous man, especially devoted to young children. After his death about 340 AD he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors purportedly stole his remains and removed them to Bari, Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas’ reputation all through Europe. His kindness and reputation for generosity gave rise to claims that he could perform miracles and devotion to him elevated. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, exactly where he was recognized by his red cape, flowing white beard, and bishop’s mitre. After the Reformation, European followers of St. Nicholas dwindled, but the legend was kept alive in Holland where the Dutch spelling of his name Sint Nikolaas was eventually transformed to Sinterklaas. Dutch colonists brought this tradition with them to America in the 17th century and here the Anglican name of Santa Claus emerged.
Other countries feature distinct gift bearers for the Christmas or Advent season: La Befana in Italy, The Three Kings in Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, Christkind or the Christ Child in Switzerland and Austria Father Christmas in England and Pere Noël, Father Christmas, or the Christ Child in France.
In 16th-century Germany fir trees had been decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper. In the Middle Ages, a common religious play depicted the story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Christmas Trees
It is believed that protestant reformer Martin Luther initial adorned trees with light. While coming property 1 December evening, the beauty of the stars shining by way of the branches of a fir inspired him to recreate the impact by placing candles on the branches of a small fir tree inside his property.
The Christmas Tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert from his native Germany. The renowned Illustrated News etching in 1848, featuring the Royal Loved ones of Victoria, Albert and their kids gathered around a Christmas Tree in Windsor Castle, popularized the tree all through Victorian England.
Christmas Stockings
According to legend, a kindly nobleman grew despondent more than the death of his beloved wife and foolishly squandered his fortune. This left his 3 young daughters with out dowries and therefore facing a life of spinsterhood.
The generous St. Nicholas, hearing of the girls’ plight, set forth to support. Wishing to stay anonymous, he rode his white horse by the nobleman’s residence and threw three small pouches of gold coins down the chimney exactly where they were fortuitously captured by the stockings the young women had hung by the fireplace to dry.
]]>
Mistletoe
Mistletoe was employed by Druid priests 200 years prior to the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the plant considering that it had not roots but remained green in the course of the cold months of winter.
The ancient Celtics believed mistletoe to have magical healing powers and utilised it as an antidote for poison, infertility, and to ward off evil spirits. The plant was also observed as a symbol of peace, and it is stated that amongst Romans, enemies who met under mistletoe would lay down their weapons and embrace, hence the origin of the kiss under the mistletoe.
Holly and Ivy
In Northern Europe Christmas occurred in the course of the middle of harsh winter weather, when it was thought that ghosts and demons could be heard howling in the winter winds. Boughs of holly, believed to have magical powers considering that they remained green by means of the harsh winter, had been often placed over the doors of homes to drive evil away. Greenery was also brought indoors to freshen the air and brighten the mood during the lengthy, dreary winter.
Legend also has it that holly sprang from the footsteps of Christ as he walked the earth. The pointed leaves had been said to represent the crown of thorns Christ wore whilst on the cross and the red berries symbolized the blood he shed.
Poinsettias
A native Mexican plant, poinsettias had been named following Joel R. Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico who brought the plant to America in 1828. Poinsettias were likely used by Mexican Franciscans in their 17th century Christmas celebrations. One legend has it that a young Mexican boy, on his way to check out the village Nativity scene, realized he had no gift for the Christ Child. He gathered pretty green branches from along the road and brought them to the church. Though the other youngsters mocked him, when the leaves had been laid at the manger, a beautiful star-shaped flower appeared on each and every branch. The bright red petals, usually mistaken for flowers, are actually the upper leaves of the plant.
Christmas Cards
A form of Christmas card began in England 1st when young boys practiced their writing abilities by developing Christmas greetings for their parents, but it is Sir Henry Cole who is credited with making the initial real Christmas card. The first director of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Henry found himself too busy in the Christmas Season of 1843 to compose individual Christmas greetings for his friends.
He commissioned artist John Calcott Horsley for the illustration. The card featured three panels, with the center panel depicting a family enjoying Christmas festivities and the card was inscribed with the message: ”A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You”.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department store, had been purchasing and distributing children’s coloring books as Christmas gifts for their clients for numerous years. In 1939, the owners asked 1 of their own workers to produce a book for them, thus saving money. A copywriter, 34-year old Robert L Might wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and 2.4 million copies had been handed out that year. When May’s brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the lyrics and melody for the song “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” in 1947, the Rudolph phenomenon was born. The song sold two million copies that year, going on to become one of the greatest selling songs of all time, second only to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”.
Christmas Carols
Carols were very first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but there had been not Christmas carols. They had been pagan songs, sung at the winter solstice celebrations as the individuals danced round stone circles. The word carol in fact indicates dance or a song of praise and joy.
Early Christians took over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing rather of pagan ones. Soon after this numerous composers all more than Europe started to write carols. However, not a lot of people liked them as they had been all written and sung in Latin. This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he began his nativity plays in Italy. the men and women in the plays sang songs or “canticles” that told the story throughout the plays. The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. Most of the finest identified carols such as Once in Royal David’s City and Away in a Manger are relatively recent getting been written in America throughout the 19th century.
Isn’t history fascinating? Want to find out a lot more? Come join boomeryearbook.com
www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking internet site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old buddies, or expand your mind with brain games supplied by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join right now to discover the a lot of techniques we are helping Boomers connect for enjoyable and profit.
For www.boomeryearbook.com