December 25 - Christmas Day

         

  We all know Dec-25 is an holiday. Most of us even know its because of Christmas and we celebrate Jesus Christ birth. But how many of us know the true story behind this day?. When i started searching for the roots, i got some interesting stories behind this day. 

          What is Dec-25? Where it is started? Why we celebrate? How it all started?

          No, Jesus didn't born on Dec-25. In-fact the bible didn't mentioned the date of birth.  There is no evidence for the celebrations of Jesus birth for the first three centuries. The biblical reference to shepherds tending their flocks at night when they hear the news of Jesus birth might suggest the sprint lambing season, in the cold month of December.It was Pope Julius I who choose this day of Celebration of Nativity.

         The end of December was a perfect time for celebrations. Since the cost of feeding cattle is high in this time, most cattle were slaughter. This was the time when most fresh meat and wine is available. The Romans had their mid-winter Saturnalia festival in late December. Roman Emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus(Unconquered Sun), on Dec-25.
        
          The most popular theory for the origin of this celebrations is it was borrowed from pagan celebrations. According to the theory, early Christians deliberately choose these dates to encourage the spread of Christianity throughout Roman world.

Who is Santa Claus ?

St. Nicholas

        Santa Claus - an old man on a reindeer sleigh, bringing presents to children is derived from the Father of Christmas, the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas and Saint Nicholas, the historical Greek bishop and Gift-giver of Myra(Demre). He is the man who taught us there is more fun in giving than receiving. He was  famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. 

    Saint Nicholas was exiled from Myra later put in prison during the persecution by the Emperor Diocletian. He was died on 6th December 343 AD. Dec- 6 was later named as Saint Nicholas Day and started presenting gifts to children.

    In 16th Century, the traditions and stories of Saint Nicholas had became unpopular. 
So in Uk, people started celebrating in the name of  'Father Christmas', a fictional character from children stories. In USA his name was 'Kris Kringle'. Later Dutch settlers in USA took the stories of St. Nicholas and Kris Kringle, called him 'Sinterklaas' - pronounced as Santa Claus.

   Thomas Nast was the man behind the today's looks of Santa Claus. He drawn several pictures of Santa. This is were Santa developed his huge tummy. In 1920's Coke company used Santa for advertisements. Haddon Sundblom took the ideas of Thomas Nast and drawn 'Coke Santa', looks bigger in size with a huge tummy in red and white outfit with a coke in his hand.  

What about Christmas Tree ?

   A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine, or fir or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germany with predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly 15th century, in which devout Danish Christians brought decorated trees into their homes and danced around them.

     While it is clear that the modern Christmas tree originated during the Renaissance of early modern Germany, there are a number of speculative theories as to its ultimate origin. Its 16th-century origins are sometimes associated with Protestant Christian reformer Martin Luther who is said to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree.

          
        This is all for now. Wish you a Merry Christmas.

Cheers,
Harry