Over the years, many Christmas traditions were started by Christians to give honor and praise to their Savior. Many of these traditions continue, but unfortunately the original reason for them is lost. Considering that we have now over two thousand years of these traditions most of us do not know why we follow so many of these Christmas traditions.
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The Biblical narrative of Jesus birth gives no date for the event, though it more than likely occurred in the spring than in winter. Luke tells us that shepherds were abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night. Shepherds guarded their flocks day and night in the fields only at lambing time, in the spring. In the winter the animals were kept in corrals, unwatched.
It is important to note that for two centuries after Christ's birth, no one really knew, and few people cared, exactly when he was born. Birthdays were unimportant; death days counted. Besides, Christ was divine and his natural birth was deliberately played down. In fact, the Church even announced at one point that it was sinful to contemplate observing Christ's birthday as though He were a King, or Pharaoh."
(It was a common practice for the people who lived under a King’s Domain, to be forced to celebrate the birthday of the King, which would be treated as a national holiday. There was also a birthday tax that was many levied on the people to be paid to the king. The early Christians, not wanting to celebrate the birthday of natural kings, began to find times when they could celebrate the Biblical birth record of their “King of Kings.” They would also give gifts of food to needy people in the name of Christ instead of paying a tax; hence the beginning of the tradition of giving gifts on Christmas.)
For several hundred years following the birth of Christ, pagan Romans, still in the majority, celebrated Natalis Solis Invicti, "Birthday of the Invincible Sun God," Mithras, on December 25. The Mithras cult originated in Persia and rooted itself in the Roman world in the first cent B.C. By the year 274 A.D. Mithraism was so popular with the masses Emperor Aurelian proclaimed it the official state religion. In the early 300’s the cult seriously threatened Christianity, and for a time, it was uncertain which faith would emerge victorious in the empire. Church fathers' debated their options.
It was well known that Roman patricians and plebeians alike enjoyed the festivals of a protracted nature. The Church, then, needed a December celebration. Thus, to offer converts an occasion in which to be pridefully celebratic, the Church officially recognized Christ's birth. And to offer head-on competition to the sun worshipers' popular feast, the Church located the Nativity on December 25. The mode of observance would be characteristically prayerful: a Mass; in fact, Christ's Mass. As one theologian wrote in the 320’s: "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun but because of him who made it.". . .
The celebration of Christmas took permanent hold in the Western world in 337, when the Roman emperor Constantine was baptized, uniting for the first time the Crown and the Church. Christianity had become the official state religion. And in 354, Bishop Liberius of Rome reiterated the importance of celebrating not only Christ's death but also his birth.
(Sacred Origins of Profound Things, By Charles Panati: Penguin Books, 375 Hudson St., New York, New York, 10014,U.S.A. (Page 215,
Well, the Greek name “Xristo” or Christos, begins with the Greek letter “Chi”, which appears similar to the English letter X. So the monks began to write the word for their “Christ Mass” (or Christ prayer service that was the church service on Christmas day) with the capital of the Greek letter “X” (Chi). They were not being disrespectful but showing honor by delegating this letter to represent “Christ” Himself. The clergy of the day all knew of this honor but many of the people could not read or write so the common man would not have known or even understood the significance. So using “X” is to use the highest honor given by the ancient Greeks, to say “Christ.”
Over the years this historical honor and significance was lost by most (except the well studied) so now many think that when this is so used that the writers are just x-ing Christ out of Christmas. Now you know the truth of this tradition, use it as a tool of ministry to lead others to “X”
Many legends exist about the first Christmas Tree but one of the earliest was that it was associated with the Edenic Tree of Knowledge and decorated it with apples—forbidden fruit.
The only native evergreen tree found in the Middle East was the Holly plant or tree. For us in the North America, Holly is a bush but in its native area it would grow to be one of the larger trees. It was used for many things because it was one the strongest woods and could be polished to a high shine.
Holly was thought to be the tree from which the cross was made. Because of the tradition that it was the type of wood that the Cross was made from early Christians attached special significance to it. Hence the use of using Holly greens to decorate around the Christmas season.
Other religions also used the tradition of evergreens in their pagan worship. One was the custom that goes back to a Roman festival honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. During this celebration Romans would fill their homes with greens and give each other holly to symbolize friendship. In later years, the first Christians (who had to practice their new religion in secret) hung holly and greens on their front doors to mask their beliefs from the Romans, but they would add a special feature so that other Christians would know that they were worshipping Christ and not Saturn. They would shape their Holly into a circle representing the never ending love of God. Hence the beginning of the Christmas Wreath.
As time went on and the celebration of Christmas moved into northern Europe, Holly was not a common plant but fir and spruce trees were. So the tradition of using other evergreens as decorations became common with Europeans.
It appears that Martin Luther, was one of the first to take an entire fir tree indoors. He illuminated it with candies to remind children of the light Jesus Christ brought into the world. However, it wasn't until the early 17th century that the Christmas tree really became a part of the holiday celebration. European families brought it into their homes and decorated it with homemade ornaments, such as paper roses, candies and cookies. The Christmas tree tradition gained popularity when German-born Prince Albert, husband of England's Queen Victoria, installed a lighted tree in Windsor Castle in 1841 The tree, trimmed with cookies, candies and glass figurines, became The centerpiece of the royal family's holiday celebration. Later the candles were used to represented the stars in the sky over Bethlehem.
Around the 1830's, German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania introduced the custom to America. They brought freshly cut evergreen trees indoors and decorated them with brightly colored cornucopias filled with nuts, fruits and candy, and with colored eggshells and candles. Later, as other immigrants came to America from all over Europe, they brought their beautiful traditions with them.
PUTTING THE STAR
on the tree represented the Star that led the wise men to the infant child.
on the tree represents the “Angelic Host” that first appeared the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks that first Christmas night.
Later on, in England and Scandinavia, the plant was hung over entryways; anyone passing under it was supposed to come in peace and would receive a friendly greeting--such as a kiss on the cheek.
Early Christians followed this practice by finding those in need within the Christian community, giving them those things that they needed on Christmas as a sign that their God was taking care of them. Charles Dickens novel “A Christmas Carol” with Scrooge giving the Christmas dinner to the family of Tiny Tim depicts this custom. This reason for giving gifts as an expression of God’s love and care has been lost. Today gifts are given to express our love but the thought of expressing God’s love has been all but lost in our modern celebrations.
CAROLING
Santa Claus wasn't always the round, cheerful figure we know today. He was first pictured as a rather dignified person in long robes. That's because the idea of this gift-bringer is based on St. Nicholas, a real 4th century bishop. One of the stories about him is this: Hearing of a nobleman who had no money for his daughter's dowries, St. Nicholas rode by their house and tossed in three bags of gold. One bag fel
l into a stocking drying by the chimney--and so the custom of hanging up Christmas stockings began. The legend of St. Nicholas--and the stocking--spread throughout Europe and was brought to this country by the Dutch. They called him Sinterklaas, but English-speaking settlers changed it to Santa Claus. Not until the 1800's did Santa lose his stern image. In 1822, Clement Moore's delightful poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," portrayed Santa with a fat belly and
merry laugh. The final touch came in 1866, when famous cartoonist Thomas Nast drew a red-cheeked Santa with his Christmas list in a popular magazine. That's how kids have pictured--and loved Santa ever since!
(Family Circle Mag. 12/11/84)
The German word “Christkindl” which means “Christ Child” eventually was turned into “Kris Kringle”.
Timothy Mann is the founder of Church Builders International and also an internationally renowned minister and prophet. For more on Tim or his ministry, go to ChurchBuildersInt.org
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