I recently posted a query on my Facebook status regarding whether or not there is any holiday decor that doesn't give off a "Christmas" vibe. As a non-Christian, I've always felt a disconnect between the actual purpose of Christmas and the beautiful winter decorations that all the Christian people use to decorate their homes. Is there something that makes a pine wreath or garland inherently Christian? Answer: no.
As one friend helpfully pointed out, a lot of traditions that we now associate with Christmas actually grew out of Pagan rituals. Some quick googling led me to this informative site, eSsortment, which addresses this exact issue.
Let me summarize their excellent explanation detailing the origins of many "Christmas" rituals with origins in pre-Christian festivals.
Carolling began during the Romans' winter solstice celebebration with the Mummers, "costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house performing for their neighbors."
In northern Europe, the winter solstice celebration was called "Yule" (which literally meant "wheel", symbolizing the sun) and was celebrated to honor the birth of the pagan sun god on the shortest day of the year. The celebration included mistletoe, then considered a sacred plant, and kissing under it was a fertility ritual. Holly berries were considered "food of the gods."
Evergreens were common to virtually all European winter solstice celebrations, being brought into the home as a hopeful reminder that the growing season would return. Druids worshipped large trees in their religious ceremonies, often held in a circle around them.
While the date of Christ's actual birth is unknown, many historians place it in September, six months after the Jewish Passover. It is nearly universally agreed that it did not actually occur in December, as shepherds would be unlikely to have been tending their flocks outside at that time (as they did according to the bible on the night of Jesus' birth.)
When Pope Julius I declared in 350 AD that Christmas would be celebrated on December 25th, everyone gradually integrated their traditional seasonal celebrations with the Christian holiday. And this is why all of these winter rituals became intertwined with Christmas.
Next, stay tuned for some drool-worthy holiday decor that doesn't scream "Jesus" - for those of us who just want to celebrate the season...
As one friend helpfully pointed out, a lot of traditions that we now associate with Christmas actually grew out of Pagan rituals. Some quick googling led me to this informative site, eSsortment, which addresses this exact issue.
Let me summarize their excellent explanation detailing the origins of many "Christmas" rituals with origins in pre-Christian festivals.
Carolling began during the Romans' winter solstice celebebration with the Mummers, "costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house performing for their neighbors."
In northern Europe, the winter solstice celebration was called "Yule" (which literally meant "wheel", symbolizing the sun) and was celebrated to honor the birth of the pagan sun god on the shortest day of the year. The celebration included mistletoe, then considered a sacred plant, and kissing under it was a fertility ritual. Holly berries were considered "food of the gods."
Evergreens were common to virtually all European winter solstice celebrations, being brought into the home as a hopeful reminder that the growing season would return. Druids worshipped large trees in their religious ceremonies, often held in a circle around them.
While the date of Christ's actual birth is unknown, many historians place it in September, six months after the Jewish Passover. It is nearly universally agreed that it did not actually occur in December, as shepherds would be unlikely to have been tending their flocks outside at that time (as they did according to the bible on the night of Jesus' birth.)
When Pope Julius I declared in 350 AD that Christmas would be celebrated on December 25th, everyone gradually integrated their traditional seasonal celebrations with the Christian holiday. And this is why all of these winter rituals became intertwined with Christmas.
Next, stay tuned for some drool-worthy holiday decor that doesn't scream "Jesus" - for those of us who just want to celebrate the season...
Comments