Christmas is celebrated all over the world, and although different places celebrate it in different ways, there are some symbols that represent the festive season like no other. The nativity scene, the mistletoe, Christmas cards, the Christmas tree, Christmas carols, Santa socks with presents – have you ever wondered where each of these came from? Brace yourself and get ready to travel back in history and discover the origin of these Christmas traditions.
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At the centre of it all, the Nativity
There is no Christmas without the Nativity! It is the reason for the feast we celebrate, but when was the first one put up? In the winter of 1223, St. Francis of Assisi was looking for a way to talk about the birth of Jesus while touring Italian villages, until he came up with the idea of setting up a straw crib and having the villagers act out the scene by dressing up as their characters. The people in the villages replaced the performances with clay or wooden figures to keep in their homes, and so the custom spread throughout Europe. Today, the custom remains and the nativity scene is a time to enjoy with the family and pray for those who need it most.
The Christmas tree
Nothing says Christmas better than the tree! Coloured lights, ribbons, hanging ornaments, glittering spheres and at the top: the star. This icon of the festive season comes from Norse mythology. They believed that the world was an oak tree, the Yggdrasil, from which everything that exists came from and worshipped it as sacred. In the 8th century, when Christianity spread to northern Europe, they took over this pagan cult. Legend has it that the missionary Boniface felled the oak tree consecrated to Thor in the Hessian region of Germany and after reading the Gospel offered them a fir tree that represented peace and eternal life. So they began to use it and decorate it with candles and apples just like the tree of Eden. And you, what do you decorate your Christmas tree with?
The joy of carols and gifts
It’s time for the favourite part for many: the presents. What child doesn’t look forward to midnight to find out what those boxes covered in coloured paper are hiding? This Christmas custom originated more than 2000 years ago in the Roman Empire, which celebrated the festival of Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture and harvests, when winter arrived. The Romans would give each other gifts to celebrate. In the Middle Ages, when Christianity arrived, they appropriated this custom to evangelise the people of pagan cults. Their teachings were also passed on through village songs, to which they included stories of the birth of Jesus, transforming them into what we now call Christmas carols. Get your best voice ready to sing this festive season!
The secret beneath the mistletoe
Its secret dates back to the 17th century, where a Scandinavian myth considered this plant sacred to the Druids because it remained green all year round. Its healing and mystical properties meant that for the Norse, mistletoe symbolised peace and at that time truces in battles were declared under it. In the 18th century, the belief began to spread that a kiss under the mistletoe ensured a prosperous marriage. But what does it have to do with Christmas? It became common for decorating in winter because it survived the cold and according to legend it was believed that its roots could not touch the ground, so villagers began to hang them up.
Christmas greetings and postcards
The mail is here! And at Christmas time it’s really full. It is customary to give cards with greetings to family and friends for the holidays. Who had this great idea? Sir Henry Cole was an English politician and inventor of the 19th century who, for Christmas 18, decided to do something different: he hired a friend to paint a Christmas scene and had 1000 cards printed to give to his collaborators and friends. It was so original that companies and important people started to do the same all over the country. Now, with the advent of the internet it is less common to receive cards, but this tradition will always be a nice touch for your loved ones to share good wishes this holiday season.
Astonished? I hope so! Now, that you know the story behind the tradition singing a Christmas Carol and decorating the Christmas tree won´t feel the same never again!
