Christmas

The year has almost come to an end when everyone is waiting the long overdue holiday, after a period of hard work. This holiday period means different things to different people, for some it is a time of festivities while for others just a break to spend with family or just to relax.

We have all heard of Christmas, either because of our religion or because our friends celebrate it or because it is celebrated all over the world. What comes to one’s mind when one thinks of ‘Christmas’? Good food, time with family, presents, Christmas tree, snow, Santa Claus, nativity and so  much more.

Good food, time spent with family/friends we understand, but where do the other things come from? Do they have some meaning or some history? Does it come from some culture? Some superstition or some tradition handed down through generations?

We in this little piece want to find roots or origin of a few symbols related to this globally celebrated festival – Christmas.

Let’s start with the basics:

1.      Christmas – we do not need to be Christians to know that this word comes from Christ, who is the Son of God - Jesus. It commemorates his day of birth. As we all know it is celebrated on the 25^th of December, though the Bible does not mention the exact date, Pope Julius I, set this date in an attempt to Christianize the Pagans in the 4^th century.

Ancient pagans were hunters and spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives and because of this they worshipped, the sun. These people saw the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the word for this wheel, houl, that the word yule (another name for Christmas) is thought to have come. At Winter Solstice they lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale.

2.      Crib – the dictionary describes this word as a child’s bed or a cot. For the Christians the Crib is the most important symbol of Christmas celebration. It symbolizes the events that occurred on the actual day of Jesus’ birth.

This story begins with a young God-fearing girl, Mary who is engaged to be married to a carpenter, Joseph. Now Mary was expecting a child, and the males of that town were expected to go to Jerusalem for Census. On the way Mary goes into labor and they stop in a little town called Bethlehem where she gives birth to Jesus in a stable. Jesus’ birth draws different people, be it angels or wise men, shepherds or cattle.

3.      Christmas tree – not any tree is used as a Christmas tree, it is the Fir tree that adorns the homes of many. Fir tree symbolizes the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The evergreen fir tree is a sign of hope throughout the winter season--hope in the promise that the rest of nature too will awaken to new life in the coming spring. For the Christians it represents hope for everlasting life through Jesus Christ.

4.      Ornaments – the Christmas tree is decked up with different adornments. Each figurine has a meaning.

·       Star: represents the bright star that shone the night Jesus was born and aided the three wise men to find him.

·       Gifts: represent the offerings of the three wise men- gold, frankincense and myrrh.

·       Holly Berries: represent the blood of Christ.

·       Wreath: represents the crown of thorns that was worn by Jesus.

·       Bells: represents the call for mankind to worship the Lord.

·       Lights or Candles: represent the light Jesus brought in the world.

5.      Carols – the word carol originally meant to dance to something. They were sung by the Pagans thousands of years ago, during the winter solstice (shortest day of the year). They were not Christmas carols but the Christians adapted this tradition to their faith.

6.      Carolers - represent the multitude of angels that sang on the night of Jesus’ birth.

7.      Santa Claus - Santa brings us all together! Kids all over the world know who Santa is... A merry old man with red and white clothes, eight flying reindeer, later joined by Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. A home located near the North Pole. Who has a habit of filling socks or stockings with presents on the night of December 24^th, bringing in the idea of giving that reminds us; we are all on this planet together, for the long run.

We hope that this piece helped you understand the meaning and spirit of this celebration better. Regardless of the faith we profess, we all gear up to take part in this festivity.

Wishing everybody a joyous, prosperous

and peaceful Christmas and New Year!!

-Indu and Inma