Hello Readers!! Every one of us gets excited upon hearing the word – Christmas. It takes us to our younger time during school, when we used to wait for Christmas celebrations. We used to wait for gifts and chocolates from Santa Claus. Churches and houses used to be decorated during this period and were the center of attraction. The only rhythm of Jingle Bells was enough to make us feel excited.
The article will focus on the festival of Christmas and some unknown facts related to it. Christmas is the festive season marking the birth of our beloved son of God, Jesus Christ.
Hence, the festive Christmas is a Christian festival. It’s a popular holiday and celebrated worldwide. Let’s go through the history of Christmas in our next reading.
1. Christmas History
The birth of Jesus forms the basis of the history of Christmas. He was born in Bethlehem, 10 km south of Jerusalem. He was born in a lower-middle-class family. Jesus gained the skill of carpentry from genes as his father had good skills in it.
The names with which he called were Messiah of Israel, The Christ, and The Anointed One. He is also known as the Creator and Saviour of the World. Jesus Christ started his preaching and devoted his life to humanity. He had the power of healing.
He developed a ministry with 12 Jews and carried forward his work. Finally, a new religion- Christianity was born.
The belief is that their lord was born on 25th December. Hence, people celebrate Christmas Eve on this day. The Christmas festival begins at midnight on the 24th of December. It continues till the beginning of the new year. It falls under the winter solstice period that comes every year on the 22nd of December.
Christmas is also considered the point where the winter solstice ends. It was also the end of harvest, marking the start of Christmas.
1.1. History of Jesus
If we dive into his story, he was born to Mother Mary when the baby Jesus was born, and angels from heaven descended to pay tribute and respect to him. The baby Jesus believed to take birth as God’s wish.
Since his younger age, he taught and preached to older people. He was great at understanding and had control over his thoughts. Once, he had been sitting in an area and giving life lessons to a literate crowd. It astonished many people.
Later, at the age of 30, he did his Baptism. His cousin John did the proceedings. Baptism is accepting yourself in the Christian church. Jesus was also born without sin, but he still did Baptism.
Later, he traveled the world as a student and teacher preaching Christianity.
His teachings and his fame made many Jewish priests angry, anxious, and rebellious. Hence, our beloved Jesus Christ was arrested and crucified in front of his followers. While crucified, he also asked for mercy from God for his followers.
Three days after his death, he was relieved once again. He showed his presence in front of his followers with his physical body. He passed on the message and went to heaven to merge himself with God’s abode. This compiles the history of this festival.
2. Who is Santa Claus
Santa Claus, or Father Christmas was called Saint Nick or Saint Nicholas. He is known to gift other valuable things to the poor secretly.
If we discuss his appearance, he is a gentleman dressed with red-nosed reindeer.
- He wore a red coat with a black belt.
- Santa’s red suit is very famous and still used to mimic him. He had a white beard and wore black boots.
- Santa Claus often carries a bag filled with toys and gifts. He is associated with gift-giving in popular culture.
- He is very popular among the kids. It showed that he descended the hill in his horse-open sleigh.
North Pole is believed to host the house of Mr and Mrs Claus. They both used to make small gifts for kids and children. In some other beliefs, he is known to live in the hills of Finland. Christmas Eve or Christmas Fest is always linked with Santa. In some popular myths, it is believed that Santa distributed gifts and toys among children before Christmas.
2.1. Some Interesting Things About Santa
Here also comes the name of James Edgar. He was the owner of the departmental store. Santa Claus dresses up to attract a crowd. Like Santa, He loves distributing gifts and delivering toys and other things. He was then prevalent in the 1890s.
Santa Claus’s appearance became popular with the help of artists and advertisements. Cartoonist Thomas Nast drew the appearance. He took inspiration from the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”
Then Coca-Cola popularized the picture of Santa Claus in our minds. It was the effort of the extensive advertisement from Coca-Cola. Hence, Santa Claus is an essential aspect of the celebration of Christmas.
3. How Is Christmas Celebrated Worldwide? Some Interesting Facts
The attire of our beloved Santa is not what we imagine today. Initially, the dress code was green and white. Eventually, however, it shifted to a black and red suit in advertisements for Coca-Cola.
Santa lived in the fourth century AD.
The famous song “Jingle Bells,” sung and played on Christmas Eve, is one of the Thanksgiving songs.
Christmas Cards are one of the parts of the Christmas celebrations. Roughly 3 lakh cards are distributed in the United States. It is itself a record.
3.1. Christmas Eve
We observe that a household celebrates this festival by decorating, organizing feasts and so on. It includes decorating trees, evergreen trees, and colorful lights. One more common practice includes exchanging gifts. Preparation of delicious food is a regular practice. Fir trees were decorated with fruits and sweets during earlier times.
In missionary schools, Christmas is celebrated a day before. Christmas holidays follow it. Songs were sung. It included Jingle Bells and One Horse Open Sleigh. Christmas marks the first day of the festive season, and it is said to continue for 12 days.
At Last, Santa Claus distributes sweets and chocolates among the students. The decorative house depicting the birth of Jesus is built. It includes angels, villagers, and Mother Mary. Let’s see how people celebrate Christmas in some countries.
3.1.1. Christmas in India
Christians are a minority in India. But the whole of India celebrates Christmas with full enthusiasm. It is celebrated in Southern India in a significant fashion. Their people often keep fast from December 21st and break it at midnight on the 25th with a feast. Here, people believed Jesus was the source of light. Churches are decorated with Christmas trees, lights, lamps, fresh flowers, and plum cakes.
3.1.2. Christmas in Australia
It is very widely celebrated. All offices and institutions are kept shut. The whole country is decorated as if it were a marriage. Often, parades are arranged on streets, and fireworks are also arranged. Gifts are circulated, even among the homeless and needy. Poinsettia plants are commonly used for Christmas trees.
3.1.3. Christmas in America
Christmas is their biggest festive season. Snacks, consisting of cookies and Christmas pudding, are left out.
The Christmas song is an essential part of their music during the celebrations. Some also write letters to Santa, letting their wishes get fulfilled. The concept of holiday cards is also there. Mass of nativity or dramatization of the birth of our beloved Jesus Christ is shown.
3.1.4. Christmas in the Philippines
Unlike in the US, they organize a great meal at midnight on 24th December. The gathering happens for mass before that, and then the meal is served. ‘ Noche Beuna‘ is their tradition.
3.1.5. Christmas in Israel
It is a popular celebration as it hosts his birthplace. The streets are decorated, and one can feel the vibe. It lasts for 12 days, and the famous thing is their feast happens on 24th-December. Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated together. Meals, including stuffed roasted turkey seasoned with pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg, are served.
3.2. Christmas Trees Fact
The Christmas tree is an essential part of our household decorations. In the US, Christmas trees have been sold since the 1850s. They are grown for at least 15 years before they are sold out.
- The Christmas tree is a valuable component, too. Some parts are edible as they can provide Vitamin C for our body.
- It was the 19th century when an artificial Christmas tree was constructed in Germany.
- The United Kingdom consumes about 8 million alone, and America consumes 35-40 million trees annually during this period.
- UK’s tallest living Christmas tree is present at Wakehurst. It is decorated with 1800 lights every year.
- Christmas is popular in Europe, and around 60 million trees are grown.
3.3. Economic Facts About Christmas
In the 1600s, celebrating was considered illegal. It would have attracted heavy fines.
- On Christmas Eve, around 28 Lego sets are sold every second!
- Holiday shopping or Christmas small gift shopping accounts for 30% of all retail sales in the US.
- Americans buy 1.6 million cards during the festive eve.
3.4. Christmas Songs Facts
James Lord Pierpont wrote the songs One Horse Open Sleigh and Jingle Bells.
The “Silent Night Before Christmas” is the most recorded song for this festive eve. It has more than 700 versions.
There is a click in the Christmas song – Jingle Bell! The word Christmas is missing from the lyrical portion.
Christmas Carol is the musical theme of Christmas. Charles Dicken wrote it, and that too in six weeks.
3.5. Other Facts
- The Story of Rudolph is famous when we discuss Christmas. His appearance is like that of red nose reindeer. However, he was linked to the Montgomery Ward department store, which they used in their marketing campaign. The marketing strategies include the distribution of coloring books and other stationeries. This made it a stop point for children and parents.
- Martin Luther, a prominent figure, popularized the Christmas tradition in Germany. It was way back in 1500 when the Christmas tree was placed in public places for the first time.
- Around 3 billion Christmas cards are circulated in the United Kingdom every year.
- Christmas started in the US from Alabama. Hence, it paved the way for Christmas and its entire celebration in America.
- The colors used in this festival are significant. The color Gold shows royalty and light. The color Green represents rebirth, and red represents the blood of Jesus.
- There is no myth about Xmas. The letter ‘X’ is a Greek word representing Christ. Hence, in their language, Christmas is termed as Xmas.
- It is believed that the festive Christmas evolved from a pagan festival. Pagan refers to the celebration of non-Christian gods. Popular in European, Asia, and African regions. Although it is not linked to pagan festivals, some elements are connected to pagan. It is also the end of extreme temperatures and harshness.
- The Yule log is often served as dessert as part of Christmas traditions in France and Belgium. A Yule Log is a piece of wood burnt during festive eve and then proceeded for food.
- The Christmas we know today was more popularized during the Victorian times. Queen Victoria used to organize feasts and gatherings. She used to give away gifts and make delicious puddings. But as in Victorian times, a small amount of alcohol was added to all puddings. Puddings included Roast turkey, fruity mince pies, and so on.
- The twelfth night is also known as the Feats of Epiphany. It marks the end of the long 12 days of the festive season.
- If a snowfall occurs and a depth of 1 inch of snow deposits, then Christmas is known as White Christmas.
- There is a tradition of slaughtering pigs in winter in Europe. So Christmas is also linked to Fresh Meat as it is believed to be the only source.
- The scene of hanging stockings is familiar during Christmas. It is kept for Santa Claus. Small children do that before going to sleep and find small gifts in stockings.
- All Christians don’t celebrate the festival on the same day. The Orthodox group from Russia celebrates it on January 7th.
- Christmas is not limited to only one character – Santa Claus. Apart from him, a wise and kind witch, La Befana, is also there. Yule Lads is also another character.
- Santa is very popular among kids, as 85% of the population believes he is present.
- The Christmas facts also include candy canes. The white part represents the purity of Christ. The red part signifies the blood oozing out upon his crucifixion.
- ” All Christmas trees are not fir trees.”
- Pope Julius was one of the Christian bishops who believed Christ was born on 25th December. He started the festival of Christmas.
- “Cristes Maesse,” is the origin of the word Christmas. It signifies the mass of Christ.
- People in Japan eat chicken as fast food during the eve.
- Cookies were common leftovers instead of coffee pouches in Sweden. It provided the energy required.
- President Roosevelt was the first to ban trees from the White House.
Conclusion
Christmas itself is a vibe and hope, so this article may have given the idea of it. It was definite that one should have got to know something new about the beloved festival. To the crowd who was new to the festive Christmas, it would have got a spark to know more about it. The article dealt with what is Christmas, how it is celebrated worldwide. Myths about our beloved Santa Claus were discussed.
It also inspires us that Santa is not required for fulfilling wishes but we can be a Santa in anyone’s life. Fulfilling one’s wishes and providing help is the ultimate aim. As every festival has the aim to spread brotherhood and help the needy, Christmas is no different to it. We read how the distribution of sweets and gifts, are common tradition. This summarizes the whole concept of Sharing is Caring.
After connecting the readers emotionally, the last sections deal with those unknown facts that would develop more interest in this festival. We also came across the facts that how festivals boost the economy for a given period.
Hence, there is much to discover about the never-ending facts about it and its history.
Last Updated on by kalidaspandian