Most of the modern day trappings of Christmas originated in the European countries and America. The Christmas tree began to appear in Germany as early as 700 AD. It may have grown out of half-remembered druidic traditions, or possibly out of the annual bringing in of the Yule log. The practice spread across Europe, and by the Victorian era people were decorating the trees with candles, candy and cakes. In 1880 Woolworth's sold the first manufactured Christmas decorations.
Xmas
Using Xmas instead of Christmas also dates back a long time—Christ in Greek is Xristos. By the 1500s the term Xmas had passed into standard usage.
Santa with a little girl Santa Claus
And then, of course, there is Santa Claus. Santa's life is based on the life of St. Nicholas, who lived in Myra, in what is now Turkey, in the 4th century AD. Nicholas was a young bishop who wanted to give money to the poor, but was incredibly shy.
Rather than give the money directly, legend has it that he climbed onto the roof of a peasant's house, and dropped a bag of money down the chimney. The moneybag landed in a sock that a young girl has hung by the fire to dry, and it is from this story that we get the modern Christmas stocking. Santa Claus's red costume is a reminder of the bishop's robes worn by Nicholas.
Santa's Reindeer
We're not altogether sure when Saint Nick's white horse was transformed into eight sleigh-pulling reindeer. The earliest evidence was from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas—the famous poem/story by Clement Moore.
Moore even gave the eight reindeer their names. Although legend has it that Saint Nicholas climbed on rooftops to drop money down the chimney, Moore decided the reindeer could fly to the rooftop. Maybe this was because the Right Jolly Old Elf had short legs and was unlikely to scale walls.
And along with the reindeer and the sleigh came the jingle bells. A silver jingle bell is the treasured gift from Santa in the popular holiday story, The Polar Express.
Who Brings the Gifts?
Cookies and milk left for SantaWhile most countries celebrate Christmas in some form or another, each culture has it own unique celebration. Depending on what country you are in, Christmas-related holidays can be celebrated anywhere from December 6th through January 6th. While some cultural Christmas icons are celebrated independently of Jesus' birthday, others celebrate a pagan icon and Jesus on the same day.
If you were a child in France for Christmas, you would put your wooden clogs outside on December 24th to get small presents. Alternatively, a child in Italy would expect "La Befana" to come on January 6th to give him or her gifts. Although the details of a Christmas celebration are location-specific, the spirit of Christmas usually revolves around expressing care, compassion, and love to those around you.
The Christmas Season's Cultural Icons
4/
5
Oleh
Dream Come True
