Christmas Traditions

Christmas Day is celebrated mostly on December 25th to commemorate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Christianity. Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is celebrated around the world by many non-Christians as well. Popular customs of these celebrations include gift giving, music, exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, special meals and decorations such as Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Associated with bringing gifts to the children are several mythological figures such as Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Angels.
Christians celebrate Christmas in many ways. In addition to being one of the most important and popular day for attendance of church services, there are numerous other traditions. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London the custom at Christmas was that every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green”. Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome; they were popularized later by Saint Francis around 1223. Subsequently, many different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local traditions. The first specifically Christmas hymns appeared in the 4th century Rome. In the 12th century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began to derive music from popular songs and introduced something closer to the traditional Christmas carol. By the 13th century, in France, Germany, and Italy, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language developed. Secular Christmas seasonal songs emerged in the late 18th century. "Deck The Halls" dates from 1784, and the American, "Jingle Bells" was copyrighted in 1857. A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the holiday's celebration and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. Some countries have special meals for Christmas Eve, while others have the Christmas feast on December 25th. For example in England a standard Christmas meal includes turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake. Christmas cards are usually exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day. This custom has become popular among a wide cross-section of people, including non-Christians in Western society and in Asia. The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of the modern Christmas celebration. Gift giving was common in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia (in honor of God Saturn), an ancient festival which took place on December 25 and may have influenced Christmas customs. Christmas gift giving was banned by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages due to its suspected pagan origins, but it was later rationalized by the Church on the basis that it associated Saint. Nicholas with Christmas, and that gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were given to the infant Jesus by the Biblical Magi (wise men).
Christmas has been the subject of both controversy and criticism from a wide variety of different sources. The first documented Christmas controversy was Christian-led and began during the English Interregnum, when England was ruled by a Puritan Parliament who sought to remove the pagan elements of Christmas. Controversy and criticism continues in the present-day. For example, in the United States there has been a tendency to replace the greeting Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays.
Personally, I love Christmas and the traditions associated with it. My family was out in full force on last Sunday at the Notre Dame Cathedral listening to three talented choirs singing songs of Christmas. Our two grandchildren, Ryan and Sara were part of the Children’s Choir, singing their little hearts out with angelic expressions. I am also looking forward to seeing the happy faces of grandchildren on Christmas morning as they are opening their presents. And with warm hearts I say: Merry Christmas to all.