For many people Christmas is the time of giving. For Christians it is the birthday of Jesus Christ. There is a reason for every tradition of Christmas from Santa Claus to the Christmas tree. But, the true meaning of Christmas itself will always be and has always been the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of His birth, but it is well known that December 25th is highly unlikely to be a birth date for the Savior of sinners for the Christian faith. Some argue it was too cold for shepherds to be herding sheep, while others say it made sense as the lambs were to be used as sacrifices during Passover. Either way, no one knows the exact date of this Man’s birth. Regardless of the date, though, Christmas is the celebration of His birthday. So when did the tree, Santa Claus, and other traditions sneak their way into His celebration?
O, Christmas Tree
The main thought behind why we use evergreen trees as Christmas trees, mainly, has to do with St. Boniface in Germany about 1,000 years ago. He was said to tear down an oak tree being worshipped by Pagans, converted the Pagans to Christianity, and a fir tree grew from the oak’s roots. But, there are many other ideas about where the Christmas tree came from. These include celebrations utilizing green trees in Egypt and Rome. But, the most convincing legend has to do with Martin Luther.
It is said he was out in the snow looking at the trees, and was completely enamored by their beauty. Therefore, he took one home, putting candles on it to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. With as many ways the Christmas tree may have come into the picture, there are almost as many ways the Christmas tree tradition came to the United States. Either foreign troops brought the tradition over during the American Revolution or when German immigrants came to the states.
Christmas Banned
With the tree came carols, lights, and more decorations. The early Puritans in America felt that these material “heathen” items took away the true meaning of Christmas. Since they were somewhat the ruling class, they had the power to not only ban these items, but also punish those who utilized them in celebration of Christmas. This was not to last, however. With more and more German immigrants coming over, along with English peoples, eventually something had to give. Queen Victoria, an extremely popular royal in Britain, incorporated a Christmas tree and had her family painted next to it. Due to her popularity, those who worshipped Victoria followed almost everything she did – from how she dressed to how she acted. Though the Puritans kept fighting to keep Christmas sacred in their own way, eventually the Victorian influence with the huge amount of Germans flooding the country were too much, and the battle ended. Those wishing to decorate their homes, light up their trees, etc. were granted that freedom.
Mistletoe
Just like with the Christmas tree, mistletoe has two origins. It is a parasitic plant because it can and does invade trees (mostly apple and oak) in order to utilize the tree’s nutrients for its own growth. The first type of mistletoe is found here in North America, and the second is in Europe and grows berries which are considered poisonous. The Celtic Druids saw the mistletoe as having magical powers, and would sacrifice bulls, cut the plant with a special instrument, and pray for the recipient of the mistletoe. It was considered to be somewhat of an aphrodisiac. From the Greeks to the Scandinavians, mistletoe was seen used in marriage rites, as a life-giving plant, and a symbol of peace. All this information about the mistletoe has been translated, by some, to be a symbol of love defeating death. Love coming from the kiss under the mistletoe, which itself is considered a poisonous plant. For Christians, this meaning takes on a deeper understanding: Love (Christ dying for our sins) defeating Death (hell in the afterlife).
Carols
Most Christmas carols are self-explanatory. They sing of Christ the King, His birth, the sacrifice God made, etc. Other Christmas carols are more of a secular point of view, or the point of view of simply celebrating fellowship and togetherness. For a list of Christmas songs that are considered public domain, click here.
Gift Giving
This is a very easy tradition to explain. When Christ was born gifts were brought to the tiny King. These were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Though many manger sets portray three wise men, it is only assumed because of the number of gifts mentioned in the book of Matthew. Each gift has a symbolic meaning to the life of Christ. Gold is a gift for a king. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the King of King and Lord of Lords, God’s only Son who died as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind, so that those who accept and believe in Him and His forgiveness will not have to spend eternity in the afterlife in hell. Even today gold is not a cheap gift to purchase, so it is a special gift given to special people. Frankincense was used in a variety of ways for personal, religious, and general uses. People utilized this resin to make themselves or their surroundings smell better. Egyptian women used it in their eye makeup, and the Egyptians also used frankincense when they were mummifying a human body. Religious sacrifices of animals sometimes demanded the use of frankincense. The most intriguing use of this, for Christians, is the medicinal purposes, which included reports of curing snakebites, baldness, leprosy, and treating wounds. The symbolism in this gift to Christ would relate to his wounds before and after being nailed to the cross. The final gift, myrrh, was also a resin. It was used for about the same purposes as frankincense, but was also considered a necessity during burials at that time. When Christ was crucified, myrrh mixed with wine was offered to Him. Gift giving is a symbol of love and care towards another individual. No wonder we are always trying to get gifts to our loved ones that we know will be meaningful to them.
Santa Claus
Every child knows that Santa Claus is a big, fat man who wears a red suit, carried an endless amount of toys in his velvet bag, and shouts “ho, ho, ho!” as he happily delivers toys to deserving little girls and boys. But, adults know better. However, Santa Claus is not totally a myth. Once again several legends and tales were combined to create the Santa Claus we have all come to know and love today. The general idea, however, is that a wealthy, loving, and generous man would sneak gifts into the houses of the poor so their children did not go without a gift during that time of the year. St. Nicholas is the most well known legend from, what today is, Turkey. He was called a protector of children, and become extremely popular due to his vast amount of generosity. While each country tends to have a somewhat varied version of the Santa Claus we know in the United States, he is still considered a very generous, loving man who works hard to make children happy all over the world.
Christmas
With Christmas right around the corner we should be remembering why this holiday even exists. If Jesus Christ was never born we would never celebrate this time of year. The meaningfulness behind every tradition pulls us into the idea that our lives do have meaning. We have a purpose on this earth, and we were made to love God and one another. So, when you are out shopping or at home decorating your own Christmas tree, remember what each and every symbol and tradition is for. Remember what it took for Mary and Joseph to have Jesus and to keep Him safe. Remember that this is a season of love from God to you! Merry Christmas!