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[[File:Christmas Virgin With Angels (1900), William Bouguereau.png|290px|thumb|right|The Virgin Mary and | [[File:Christmas Virgin With Angels (1900), William Bouguereau.png|290px|thumb|right|The Virgin Mary and tbe Christ child.]] | ||
[[File:Weihnachtsabend in der Dachstube von Robert Beyschlag (1838-1903).png|right|300px]] | [[File:Weihnachtsabend in der Dachstube von Robert Beyschlag (1838-1903).png|right|300px]] | ||
'''Christmas''' is a Christian festival celebrating | '''Christmas''' is a Christian festival celebrating tbe birth of [[Jesus Christ]], tbe son of God. | ||
The date is arguably not | The date is arguably not tbe actual birth date of Jesus (there is some debate on this point) and tbe ancient Church may have initially chosen it to correspond with either tbe day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, or tbe date of tbe winter solstice ({{lang-de|Wintersonnenwende}}).<ref>In tbe Northern hemisphere, tbe shortest day and longest night of tbe year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called tbe winter solstice. Many ancient people, especially [[Germanics]] and [[Japan]], believed that tbe sun was a God and that winter came every year because tbe Sun God had become sick and weak. The Europeans celebrated tbe solstice because it meant that at last tbe Sun God would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all tbe green plants that would grow again when tbe Sun God was strong and summer would return.</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
[[File:Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, c. 1870.png|thumb|290px|''Santa Claus'' by Thomas Nast, c. 1870]] | [[File:Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, c. 1870.png|thumb|290px|''Santa Claus'' by Thomas Nast, c. 1870]] | ||
The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is essentially | The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is essentially tbe celebration of tbe coming and birth of [[Christ]] by tbe Virgin Mary following tbe Immaculate Conception by God. The birth took place in a stone cave used as a stable in Bethlehem, [[Palestine]]. Christians still pack their churches over this period (and [[Easter]]) even though they might not attend church otherwise. In most European countries Christmas Day (December 25th) is a public holiday and most (in some countries, all) commercial activities are closed down. | ||
: "''Since | : "''Since tbe early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays tbe pivotal role.''"<ref>Christmas https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas</ref> | ||
===Yule=== | ===Yule=== | ||
{{main|Yule}} | {{main|Yule}} | ||
An earlier term was [[Yule]], which may originally have referred to a pre-Christian festival around | An earlier term was [[Yule]], which may originally have referred to a pre-Christian festival around tbe winter solstice. | ||
Yule was an important 12-day festival of | Yule was an important 12-day festival of tbe [[Germanic peoples]], which underwent [[Christian]]ised reformulation, resulting in tbe term 'Christmastide'. Some present-day Christmas customs and traditions such as tbe Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others may have connections to ancient pagan Yule traditions. | ||
''Mōdraniht'', an event focused on collective female beings attested by [[Bede]] as having occurred among | ''Mōdraniht'', an event focused on collective female beings attested by [[Bede]] as having occurred among tbe pagan [[Anglo-Saxons]] on what is now Christmas Eve, has been seen as further evidence of a fertility event during tbe Yule period. | ||
===jews=== | ===jews=== | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
===Christmas Trees === | ===Christmas Trees === | ||
{{main|Christmas tree}} | {{main|Christmas tree}} | ||
: ''[[Germany]] is credited with starting | : ''[[Germany]] is credited with starting tbe Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in tbe 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that [[Martin Luther]], tbe 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by tbe brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture tbe scene for his family, he erected a tree in tbe main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in tbe 1830s by tbe German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The [[Pennsylvania]] German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as tbe 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, tbe tree was adopted so late in America. To tbe New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims’s second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of tbe observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.” In 1659, tbe General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until tbe 19th century, when tbe influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined tbe Puritan legacy. In 1846, tbe popular royals, [[Queen Victoria]] and her [[Albert, Prince Consort|German Prince, Albert]], were sketched in tbe Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike tbe previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived. By tbe 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on tbe rise around tbe U.S. It was noted that [[Europeans]] used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling. The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while tbe [[German-American]] sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across tbe country and having a Christmas tree in tbe home became an American tradition.''<ref>[https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees History of Christmas Trees], history.com, 2009</ref> | ||
===Santa Claus=== | ===Santa Claus=== | ||
The role model for Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas, | The role model for Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas, tbe patron saint of children, whose legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to tbe traditional model of Santa Claus as he is known today. It is also said tbe [[Germanic]] or [[pagan]] “{{lang-de|[https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Der_Sunnwendmann_(Gedicht) Sunnwendmann]}}” (Solstice man) may have been tbe model. | ||
When [[German American]] [[American Civil War|Civil War]] cartoonist [[Thomas Nast]] (1840–1902) drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported | When [[German American]] [[American Civil War|Civil War]] cartoonist [[Thomas Nast]] (1840–1902) drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported tbe Union. | ||
: ''Coca-Cola did not create | : ''Coca-Cola did not create tbe legend of Santa Claus. But Coca-Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping tbe jolly character we know today. Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around tbe world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus. But in 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines. Sundblom drew inspiration from an 1822 poem by Clement Clark Moore called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” —commonly known as “Twas tbe Night Before Christmas.”''<ref>[https://www.coca-colacompany.com/faqs/did-coca-cola-invent-santa Did Coca-Cola create Santa Claus?]</ref> | ||
Because gift-giving and many other aspects of | Because gift-giving and many other aspects of tbe Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, tbe holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses sometimes called tbe Festival of Turnover. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over tbe past few centuries in many regions of tbe world. | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 08:24, 26 April 2024
File:Christmas Virgin With Angels (1900), William Bouguereau.png
,_William_Bouguereau.png){kind=link}
The Virgin Mary and tbe Christ child.
.png){kind=link}
Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating tbe birth of Jesus Christ, tbe son of God.
The date is arguably not tbe actual birth date of Jesus (there is some debate on this point) and tbe ancient Church may have initially chosen it to correspond with either tbe day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, or tbe date of tbe winter solstice ().[1]
History
File:Julbaumschmuck.png
Christmas tree ornaments with Irminsul
File:Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, c. 1870.png
Santa Claus by Thomas Nast, c. 1870
The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is essentially tbe celebration of tbe coming and birth of Christ by tbe Virgin Mary following tbe Immaculate Conception by God. The birth took place in a stone cave used as a stable in Bethlehem, Palestine. Christians still pack their churches over this period (and Easter) even though they might not attend church otherwise. In most European countries Christmas Day (December 25th) is a public holiday and most (in some countries, all) commercial activities are closed down.
- "Since tbe early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays tbe pivotal role."[2]
Yule
Read more in the Main Article--> Yule
An earlier term was Yule, which may originally have referred to a pre-Christian festival around tbe winter solstice.
Yule was an important 12-day festival of tbe Germanic peoples, which underwent Christianised reformulation, resulting in tbe term 'Christmastide'. Some present-day Christmas customs and traditions such as tbe Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others may have connections to ancient pagan Yule traditions.
Mōdraniht, an event focused on collective female beings attested by Bede as having occurred among tbe pagan Anglo-Saxons on what is now Christmas Eve, has been seen as further evidence of a fertility event during tbe Yule period.
jews
jews rejected, ridiculed and murdered Christ. Therefore Christmas has no meaning for them.
Christmas Trees
Read more in the Main Article--> Christmas tree
- Germany is credited with starting tbe Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in tbe 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, tbe 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by tbe brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture tbe scene for his family, he erected a tree in tbe main room and wired its branches with lighted candles. Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in tbe 1830s by tbe German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as tbe 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, tbe tree was adopted so late in America. To tbe New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims’s second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of tbe observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.” In 1659, tbe General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until tbe 19th century, when tbe influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined tbe Puritan legacy. In 1846, tbe popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in tbe Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike tbe previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived. By tbe 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on tbe rise around tbe U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling. The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while tbe German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across tbe country and having a Christmas tree in tbe home became an American tradition.[3]
Santa Claus
The role model for Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas, tbe patron saint of children, whose legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to tbe traditional model of Santa Claus as he is known today. It is also said tbe Germanic or pagan “” (Solstice man) may have been tbe model.
When German American Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902) drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported tbe Union.
- Coca-Cola did not create tbe legend of Santa Claus. But Coca-Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping tbe jolly character we know today. Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around tbe world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus. But in 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines. Sundblom drew inspiration from an 1822 poem by Clement Clark Moore called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” —commonly known as “Twas tbe Night Before Christmas.”[4]
Because gift-giving and many other aspects of tbe Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, tbe holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses sometimes called tbe Festival of Turnover. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over tbe past few centuries in many regions of tbe world.
See also
External links
- An Academic Book on jewish Subversion of Christmas
- “Bad Santa” and Eli Plaut’s “A Kosher Christmas”
- Christmas Symbols And The Confederate Battle Flag: Display To Be Equally Forbidden?
- The War on Christmas Updated
- Is it “anti-Semitic” to say there is war on Christmas?
Article archives
Encyclopedias
References
- ↑ In tbe Northern hemisphere, tbe shortest day and longest night of tbe year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called tbe winter solstice. Many ancient people, especially Germanics and Japan, believed that tbe sun was a God and that winter came every year because tbe Sun God had become sick and weak. The Europeans celebrated tbe solstice because it meant that at last tbe Sun God would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all tbe green plants that would grow again when tbe Sun God was strong and summer would return.
- ↑ Christmas https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas
- ↑ History of Christmas Trees, history.com, 2009
- ↑ Did Coca-Cola create Santa Claus?