Christmas

The debate over the precise date of Christ’s birth will probably never be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Authorities cite different pieces of evidence to support different theories. The Roman occupiers of Judea at the time kept detailed records of taxation and census, and some historians look to these to estimate when Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem. Astronomers consult astral charts and ancient records to fix the time when a comet would have been seen in the night sky. And biblical scholars point to the bible itself, to prophesies in the Old Testament and to internal evidence within the Gospels themselves, to support diverse and often conflicting theories.

What we know for certain is that in the year A.D. 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. It is probable that Julius was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans, who remained a majority at that time, to convert to Christianity. Late December marked the pagan Roman festival of Saturn, known as the Saturnalia. Pagan Romans loved their festivals, and they loved the Saturnalia best of all. It was a time for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts. Romans were slow to convert to Christianity, and this “baptism” of their favorite pagan feast sweetened the pill somewhat.

The tradition of giving wax candles as gifts marks the Saturnalia as a winter solstice festival. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, and marks the turning point of the natural calendar. All over the world, the winter solstice has always been celebrated with festivals of light and fire.

The tribes of northern Europe celebrated the middle of winter with feasting, drinking, and the lighting of the Yule Log. During the Middle Ages, following the lead of Pope Julius I, Catholic priests sought connections between biblical teachings and pagan traditions, believing that a convergence of customs would lead more people to Christianity. The celebration of Jesus’ birth was blended with other ancient rituals and traditions. These became known in Old English as the Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ. Firelight came to represent the light of Christ. Gift giving was linked to the presents of the wise men. Trees decorated with fruit and nuts—originally gifts to the deities of the pagan Underworld—became associated with God’s bounty. The evergreen fir tree was seen by Saint Boniface (c. 675–c. 754) as a symbol of eternal life.

Some of the old traditions have never quite been integrated into Christian ritual, but still survive to this day. The mistletoe that we kiss under was originally hung in doorways and on the ceilings of houses in northern Europe to prevent evil spirits from entering. The wreaths that we put on our doors at Christmas were originally the evergreen branches with which the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain decorated their houses, to symbolize the continuing vitality of nature at dead of winter.

The celebration of Christ’s birth is a time for rejoicing, but the more ancient jollities have often threatened to overwhelm the festival’s religious aspects. In 1644 Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas altogether, because he felt the merrymaking had little to do with the religious aspect. Seventeenth-century Puritans in New England tried to do the same thing, with the same lack of success. The debate over the secularization of Christmas is as old as Christmas itself, and it will continue as long as people continue to celebrate this most joyous of festivals.

Return to Holiday, Patriotic, and Seasonal Articles