The History of Christmas Celebrations

The History of Christmas Celebrations

On the 25th December Christmas celebrations take place around the World marking the birthday of Jesus Christ.

The celebration of Christmas is a tradition given to us by the Christian religion although it would be true to say that the date has been hijacked as a holiday festival for all, whatever their faith.

The 25th December has been celebrated as the birthday of Jesus for more than fifteen hundred years. The original date celebrated was January 6th but it appears that the Christian calendar was adjusted to take advantage of the established pagan festivals that the Christians were working to eradicate.

In fact the days of Christmas are a time of celebration in so many traditions. They may not all mark the birth of Jesus but they do have their own reason for declaring a holiday.

This time of year was a period of celebration for the Persians and Romans; it was recognised in Egypt, Germany, Scandinavia, Babylon and throughout the British Isles. Each culture had their own festival or holiday and these have all been subsumed into what we now call Christmas celebrations.

The timing of the Winter Solstice, being so close to Christmas, cannot be ignored. In the Northern Hemisphere this was the time that marked the return of the great Sun God, which was cause for much celebration.

The idea of giving gifts could be argued to stem from the tradition of leaving offerings for those Gods and Goddesses worshipped by pre-Christian cultures. Even in the harsh Roman Empire, which celebrated Saturnalia between the 17th and 24th December, gifts were exchanged between masters and slaves.

Christmas celebrations can be a source of controversy as so many non-Christian festivities are also celebrated at this time. It is a source of distress to many in the Christian Church that this special time of year has been transformed into a time of excess, in stark contrast to the simplicity of the birth of the Christ child.

Whatever your faith, Christmas represents a time of coming together with family and friends, a time of light and love. Whilst the true meaning of Christmas may not be relevant for many it is still a holiday season in many parts of the World where places of work are closed and gifts are given.

Enjoy your Christmas celebrations whatever your faith or your culture. Merry Christmas!