History of Christmas
Christmas » History of Christmas
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. It has a universal appeal. Christmas is the time to enjoy with friends and family. Houses are cleaned and decorated with evergreen twigs of holly and mistletoe and Christmas wreaths to welcome Christmas. A Christmas tree is bought home and decorated with lights, ornaments and tinsel. The fresh smelling and evergreen Christmas tree fills the atmosphere with festive fervor. People like organizing parties, feast and family reunions during Christmas holiday season. Christmas brings with it hope, happiness and mirth. A lot of traditions are followed during the Christmas festive season.
History of Christmas is deep rooted. We can find traces of Christmas history in the fourteenth century. Christmas was celebrated in Europe with different names and in form of winter festivals. The birth of gods like Attis and Mithras was celebrated on December 25. The Romans celebrated a festival in honor of Saturn during the winter period of 17 to 24 December. In this festival, gifts were exchanged. People decorated homes with flowers and lit candles. There was enthusiasm in the air and people visited each other and were offered traditional food and drinks. Simultaneously in Scandinavia, people celebrated the festival of Yule with great fervor. Everyone came together for festival and had food, drinks, dance and music.
These winter festivals were celebrated to welcome the spring season. Spring is the season that will give new flowers, fruits and hope to everyone. Winter was the time when there were no agricultural activities and people had time to meets friends and extended family. So they gathered together and had enjoyment. The tradition of decorating homes, churches with holly and mistletoe started during these winter festivals as both these trees stand for fertility and prosperity. In the fourteenth century, one can see people singing carols that talk about the birth of Christ. This was observed in the middle ages.
Spirituality got associated with Christmas when many homes in Italy and other countries of Europe started having plays that enacted the birth of Christ. The homes had nativity scene from Christmas Eve to Feast of Epiphany i.e. from December 24 to January 6. The twelve days were considered holy and people started attending church service. Saint Francis started this custom in Italy. Saint Nicholas who today is considered as Santa Claus played an important role in spreading the teachings of Christ.
Celebration of Christmas has always been controversial for centuries. As many devout Christians believe gifts and exorbitant feasts are exactly opposite to simple Nativity scene observed during Christ birth. The festival slowly entered the lives of common people through simple decoration of flower, twigs and family meals. The day December 25 is quite important as it was the birth of unconquered sun. Later it was accepted as Christmas day with the birth of Jesus, an unconquered soul in true sense.
