Where do Christmas traditions originate? Why do people do the things they do in the lead up to December 25th? Here is an overview of some of the common customs.
Christmas Carols
A carol is loosely defined as a song that takes the legends, customs or religious celebration of Christmas as its subject matter. The word carol is derived from the ancient Greek word, coros. The coros was the chorus that would appear during plays, singing a commentary about the drama that was unfolding.
Christmas Cards
The first Christmas card was created in 1843 by an Englishman. 1000 copies were produced and the selling price was one shilling. It was only twenty years later that the sending of cards began to gain popularity. The first cards were small and rectangular and did not fold. The print was on one side only and included a drawing, a greeting and space for the names of the sender and recipient. Folded cards were introduced in the 1870s.
Christmas Trees
The origins of the Christmas tree are not confirmed but earliest historical references date back to sixteenth century Germany. At this time, it was declared that each family was allowed only one tree and it could not be greater than “eight shoes” in height. In 1994, a poll showed that 85% of American households displayed a Christmas tree in their home over December.
Christmas Ornaments
Tree decorations have been through several changes. The earliest ones represented the religious significance of the season. Later on, trees were decorated with food and gifts. In recent times, ornaments were crafted to be pretty and eye-catching. The first detailed description of a tree with ornaments dates back to 1605 in Germany. This account states that the tree was decorated with paper roses, apples, wafers and decorations made of gold foil or sugar.
Christmas Stockings
The tradition of hanging a stocking by the fireplace dates back to medieval times when St Nicholas’s Day was celebrated on the 6th December. Children would leave their shoes by the fire at night so the saint could slide down the chimney and fill them with fruit, nuts and cookies. In some parts of Europe, families substituted stockings for shoes.
Christmas Crackers
This is one of the few Christmas traditions whose origins are definitely known. An English confectioner by the name of Thomas Smith designed a cracker with a motto and a bang to promote the sales of his bonbons. He marketed them as a Christmas novelty in 1846. According to advertisements from that time, Smith’s crackers contained items such as paper hats, masks, puzzles, games, toys, hair dye, flowers, perfume and tiny harps.
Gingerbread
Gingerbread originated in medieval Europe and the term encompassed a range of sweet and spicy breads, cakes and cookies. Europeans used to celebrate special occasions with gingerbread. Ginger had a preservative effect on bread and pastries and some loaves were no more than dry bread crumbs mixed with honey, spices and ginger.
Frankincense
Frankincense is derived from old French words meaning pure incense. It refers to the hard amber and yellow lumps of gum that are formed from the sap of the frankincense tree. It was one of the gifts the kings presented to baby Jesus. Today, frankincense trees are found in Arabia, Ethiopia, Somalia and India and frankincense is used in church ceremonies and for scenting soap.
Christmas has a rich heritage of customs from across the world. Together, they form the basis for the largest celebration in western society.
Recommended reading: Encyclopedia of Christmas by Tanya Gulevich, Omnigraphics, Inc, 2000.
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