Christmas Customs

Although the true meaning of Christmas is in its religious observance, there are many customs associated with this holiday's celebration that have been added on over hundreds of years.

Many ancient customs have survived the ages in which they began and are practiced by the world. Customs were borrowed for this period from the ancient Romans, the Druids of western Europe, the Germans and even the far east. For centuries this was observed as a holiday and was kept as a church festival only. Later holidays and holy days became a celebrated time by the peasant classes of England, Ireland, and Scotland as well as many nations.

The Puritans were wholly restrained in their way of living. They frowned upon all holidays especially in the years of the mid 1600's when they were in power. Parliament abolished Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide from their calendar. The same feeling was brought over in the new world. In New England, particularly in the Massachusetts Colony where the Puritan influence was present a law was passed making the observance of Christmas a penal offense. It was not until the mid 1860's that this state began to observe some of the Christmas traditions like the other colonies.

The first keeping of Christmas on record in England was about the year of 521 when King Arthur took over the city of York with a big celebration in a real Christian fashion. One ancient book, published in 1608, gives a description of Christmas and how it was celebrated"-"At a Christmas time when great logs furnish the hall fire-when brawne is in season, and, indeed, all reveling is regarded, this gallant knight kept open house for all comers, where beefe, beere, and bread was no niggard. Amongst all the pleasures provided, a noyse of minstrells and lincolnshire bagpipe was prepared-the minstrells for the great chambers, the bagpipe for the hall, the minstrells to serve up the knight's meate, and the bagpipe for the common dauncing." Celebrations were not confined to one or two days. In most homes of the richest they were apt to last from Christmas to Candlemas, a period of five weeks. From Christmas to Twelfth Night was a time of continuous feasting, music, dancing, froliking and fun.

Strangely enough, I read an account recently which said that the date of Christ's birth is not known for a certainty. It was not until 354 after his birth that December 25 was first observed as his birthday. Certain astrologers believed the date to be November 17 and others were certain it was on March 28. However, since the year 354, when Bishop Liberius of Rome started to observe Christmas on December 25 has that date been permanent. The custom of decorating our homes with evergreens at Christmas comes from the Romans. It was considered good luck to exchange branches of green. Another custom thought to be good luck was to have mistletoe in the home. This plant was thought to have great curative powers. Christmas decorations were first used only in churches.

The settlers brought over to the colonies the custom of decorating their cabins with branches of evergreen. Oh yes, there was usually a Christmas tree. However, there was one great difference between that period and the custom we now use. They did not go out and cut a pine and then throw it away after the holiday. They dug up the tree and placed the roots in a large tub of moist earth. After the season's celebration the tree was then replanted. They did not throw the tree on a dump or in the cabin fireplace. The idea of a living tree in the home seemed more in keeping with the Yuletide spirit. The tree would provide beauty for years about the cabin after it was transplanted. (In this age when we have grown to ecology oriented this might be a good custom to revive.)

The next important phase of Christmas is Santa Claus. Old Santa is distinctly an American personality. In other countries he is pictured as a full dignified Saint in official investments of a bishop instead of our fat, jolly countrified old white whiskered gentleman. What would Christmas be without this jolly old man? To millions of little children all over the world, this kindly character has become a tradition that has grown with the centuries. Santa Claus is a contradiction of St. Nocholas or San Nicholaus as it is pronounced in the Spanish tongues.

St. Nicholas was a Saint whose feastday was December 6. That is why this date is the day in Holland and Belgium when little boys and girls receive presents from him instead of Christmas day. St. Nicholas seems to have been adopted first in Holland as the patron Saint of Christmas.

This jolly old gentleman has many titles. To name a few-Father Christmas, Kris Kring, Pelznickle, Yule Tomten, LaBefuna, Petit Noel, Christkindli, and Santa Claus. (You figure out which country uses each name.)

The giving of gifts at Christmas season is reminiscent of the story of the Wise Men who brought gifts to the Holy Child.

You might ask now, what would Christmas be without music? The custom of having music at this time began in the churches hundreds of years ago in the form of litanies. Today wherever Christmas is celebrated every church prepares special music for the occasion. It is an old English custom for carollers to go about from house to house Christmas Eve singing 'Little Town of Bethlehem' or 'Silent Night'. This custom was brought to the colonies. In some places it is still practiced today.

The wild turkey was usually found on the Pilgrim's table at Christmas. Today, the American family's dinner table is also adorned with a plump turkey. (Domesticated.) Long ago in England a boar's head, peacock and mutton pie made up the Yule dinner. No dinner on this day was complete without cakes and cookies.

The Moravians here in Pennsylvania first introduced and became famous for their thinas-paper cookies. We know them as 'sandtarts'.

Here in America, we can find many different customs of celebrating Christmas. This depends upon the origin of the people. Here in Pennsylvania, especially in the eastern section, we find the Pennsylvania Dutch still retain German and Swiss customs. In the midwest we might find the Scandinavian method of Christmas observances. In the Southern states you might find that shooting fireworks was customary and in the extreme southwest, flowers have been used for Christmas decorations rather than evergreens.

Today there is no holiday on the calendar that is so dear to the hearts of children. Years ago, the children hung up their stockings at the fireplace. Both boys and girls wore long woolen stockings which their mothers and grandmothers knitted by hand. There were no Sears-Roebuck, Murphys or Department stores where toys could be purchased. Any toy was either made by a local craftsman or made by both parents. Most of the time presents included a new dress for Mary and a new pair of pants for Johnny. Once in awhile the husband would make a purchase of a distant store or trading post a shawl or bonnet for his wife and perhaps a bag of candy for the children. The wife quite often would present her husband with a new shirt which she had made from the flax and wool that came from the homestead.

When we were small, we were told that old Santa came down the chimney and brought us presents. We did not believe that part because our chimney was so small that even a small person could not climb up or come down, so, how in the world could a big fat-bellied man get my sled or wagon down that small chimney and manage to get around the hot living room stove? Somebody wasn't telling the truth or there wasn't any real Santa.

Now, what would Christmas be without us saying "A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!