1.) Christmas was originally the celebration of Saturnalia, a day of great feasting and gift giving between the Romans to worship the god of Agriculture, Saturn. Also, around the same time the Romans also celebrated Juvenalia and the birthday of Mithra (December 25th).
2.) In the 4th century the church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Pope Julias I chose December 25th, hoping that the new Christian holiday would be embraced with all the other winter holidays and eventually absorb the pagan traditions.
4.) The bible never states when Jesus was really born. It's thought to be in the spring or late fall, as to the fact that shepherds wouldn't be tending their flocks in the middle of winter.
5.) Easter was originally the most important holiday among Christians.
6.) By the end of the 6th century Christmas had spread to England and other places.
7.) In the early stages of Christmas, it was seen as a day for the rich to pay back the poor by giving them the best food or drink.
8.) Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan cronies cancelled Christmas in 1645. It was reinstated when Charles II returned to the throne.
9.) Christmas was not a holiday in early America.
10.) Christmas was outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. Anyone caught celebrating was fined. (Puritans hated Christmas)
11.) Even worse for Christmas was after the American Revolution, English customs weren't widely accepted, including Christmas.
12.) Christmas wasn't an official Federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
13.) Washington Irving wrote the series of stories (1819), "The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon" which define what Christmas is today. Charles Dickens also wrote, "A Christmas Carol" around this time.
14.) A Christmas riot brought about the institution of the first police force in New York City in 1828.
15.) St. Nick (Santa Claus) was thought had been born around 280 AD. He was a monk in Turkey, known for his piety and kindness.
16.) Santa Claus appeared in the US near the end of the 1700's as Sinter Klaas (Dutch origins).
17.) It was German and Irish settlers that ended the Puritan rule of 'no celebration of Christmas', until then, anyone who celebrated or decorated was penalized.
18.) Clement Clarke Moore wrote "Twas A Night Before Christmas" in 1822. His poem is responsible for our image of Santa today.
19.) In 1939 Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer to bring in customers to the Montgomery Ward stores.
20.) Long ago, people believed that evergreen trees kept away witches, ghosts, and evil spirits.
21.) Germany was the first to have the tradition of a Christmas Tree, dating back to the 1600's.
22.) The first recorded Christmas Tree in America was in the Mid 1800's by German settlers. Christmas trees were seen as symbols of paganism well into the 1840's.
23.) There are over 25,000 lights on the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
24.) The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington.
Links of Interest
The History of Christmas
Christmas Trees
History of Santa and Traditions
History of Santa
Merry Christmas Everyone!
And a Merry Christmas to you!
Posted by: J00kst3r at December 25, 2005 12:45 AM