Added: 10/08/2007 |
Something About Xmas OriginsChristmastime is a special time of the year for many people. They gather with their family and partake in traditions that continue year after year. But where do these traditions come from and how long have they been practiced? Xmas origins are a montage from the story of Christ's birth and the Christian tradition to more obscure stories like the tradition of Saint Nicholas and light-based festivals in early Europe. Whatever the reason for the season, and the traditions a family chooses to carry on year after year, Christmastime is a time of togetherness.
Christmas focuses on the birth of Jesus. Jesus, according to western Christian traditions, is the son of God and was sent to save the human world from the sins they commit. The story of Jesus begins with an angel speaking to Mary, and her subsequent pregnancy. A very pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph travel far and can find no lodging, so baby Jesus winds up being born in a stable and his first bed is a manger. Three wise men and an angel travel to visit the baby and his parents, and there are gifts offered to this newborn, gifts meant for a king: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The angel speaks of the relevance of this child's birth, and the wonder and purpose he will bring to the world. This is the basic story of Christmas, and children are taught this basic form in the earliest of opportunities in areas of the world where Christianity is prevalent.
In xmas origins come some of our most basic traditions: we give gifts every holiday to honor the gifts bestowed upon Jesus by the wise men and as a remembrance to the gift God gave the world when he gave his only son to humankind. Lights are strung among houses to honor the Christmas star that led the wise men to Jesus' location in the stable, and the star is a symbol of Christmastime. Angels also have their place in Christmas, and are part of the traditional celebration. Jesus, the cross, and other religious symbols are part of the Christian tradition and can be found during the season. The Christmas story is a prime focus, or at least should be. Some people argue that Christmas seems to lose its focus as the holiday becomes commercialized more every year.
Xmas origins do have more to them than the story of Christ. Santa Claus, elves, and other traditions have worked themselves into the montage that is modern Christmas. While the story of Jesus has been refined and set to definiteness by those who are Christian, the xmas origins of Santa Claus are debatable and hard to determine exactly. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, is believed to have originated in the fourth century in Europe, probably Germany. Saint Nicholas is traditionally a chubby old man who wears a red and white suit and spents Christmas eve night delivering gifts around the world to children who have been well behaved all year long. He gives gifts in the tradition of the Christmas spirit. Other unarguable details about Santa Claus include his mode of transportation [eight reindeer], his fondness for cookies and milk, his red suit, and his love of children.
Long before Jesus was born, ancient Europeans had a winter-based celebration that celebrated light and birth. Most European celebrations originated around the time of the winter solstice, which is December 21st. Some countries had a one day celebration like Christmas while others had a celebration lasting for days, similar to Hanukah. Germany celebrates during one of their winter holidays a pagan god named Oden while the Norse celebrate yule. These holidays, though not related to Christmas, may have helped contribute to the holiday traditions that we now associate with the Christmas holiday season.
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