Christmas Day, the symbolism of gifts, and their historical evolution. An article by Nikoleta Petanidou in *Dikaiologitika*
The traditional date of December 25 dates back to 273 A.D.
Two pagan festivals in honor of the sun were also celebrated on that day, and it is likely that December 25 was chosen to counter the influence of paganism.
To this day, according to the crosswalk, some people feel uncomfortable with Christmas because they believe it is somehow tainted by the pagan celebrations that take place on that day.
«The Gospel not only transcends culture, but also transforms it.»
But Christians have long believed that the Gospel not only transcends culture, but also transforms it.
In 320 A.D., a theologian responded to this criticism by noting:
«We consider this day sacred, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of the One who created it.».
To begin with, the people and religions of that era celebrated some kind of festival during that time. From the Jewish Hanukkah to the pagan winter solstice and from the German Yule to the Roman Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birth of the Unconquered Sun)—the sheer number of days of celebration featuring trees, decorations, logs, mistletoe, and festivities—seems to point to a period of celebration to which Christians added the birth of Jesus as a countercultural event and perhaps even an escape from the paganfor the early believers.
December 25 was the festival of the Saturnalia, a celebration of liberation, gifts, and the triumph of light after the longest night.
The Christian sees the truth contained in this pagan tradition, which reflects:
Christ, the Light of the World, His triumph over the night of sin
“…because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to enlighten those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet onto the path of peace.”.
The second theory centers on the date of March 25, which the Western Church recognizes as the Annunciation or the Immaculate Conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb.
December 25 is nine months later, and so it is celebrated as Jesus' birthday.
Regardless of the possible reasons for the date, the ecclesiastical calendar was established in the West during the reign of Constantine, while the Eastern Church retained the date of January 6 for some time.
The Origin of Christmas Eve
For centuries, Christmas was celebrated not as a single day, but as an entire season in parts of the world, beginning on this day, December 24, Christmas Eve.
Perhaps the custom of celebrating on the evening before the big day is a remnant of the ancient Jewish calendar.
Among the ancient Jews, the day began at six in the afternoon and lasted until six the following evening.
«One night and one morning—that was the first day,» Moses
Although the date is a matter of speculation, the tradition of celebrating these festivals dates back at least to the fourth century. Under the influence of the Church, Christian traditions replaced the pagan solstice festivals throughout Europe.
The Christian Meaning Behind Ancient Traditions
Evergreen trees It was the symbol of eternal life. Martin Luther introduced them into the Reformation Church as a symbol of our endless life in Christ, bringing a tree into his home on Christmas Eve, lit with candles (Isaiah 60:13).
The Candles It is a metaphor that Christ is the Light of the world (John 8).
The holm oak He speaks of the thorns in His crown (Matthew 27:29).
Red It is a Christmas color that symbolizes the blood and death of Christ.
The Gifts It is a reminder of the gifts the Magi brought to the baby Jesus. Each of these gifts speaks to an aspect of His incarnation: Greatness in life, the most bitter agony in death, and Him as God’s perfect gift to us (Matthew 2).
The Holly It was an ancient symbol dating back to Roman times. It was under the mistletoe that old feuds and broken friendships were mended. In the same way, Christ was the One who removed hostility and gave us peace with God (Romans 5:1, Romans 8:1).
The Bells are connected to the news cycle. Christ is the good news—the best news of all.
"Santa Claus" is a Dutch word that actually refers to Sinter Claus, Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas was believed to have been an early bishop of a church in Asia Minor. He noticed some desperate needs in his church and a family that had to sell their children into slavery, so one night he came and left money on their doorstep. It was gold in a sock.
Christmas Cards began in 1844. An English artist named William Dobson designed several images in England for use during this period. They found local use there and soon spread to America. In 1846, Cole and Horsley recognized the commercial potential of this growing tradition and began producing what is now a $1,000,000,000.00 industry, with 4 billion cards sent each year in the United States alone.
The Origin of the Christmas Tree
Among the many stories that claim to explain the origin of the Christmas tree, the three most popular originate in Germany—a fact that makes it the most likely place of origin. The stories span from the 8th to the 16th century. All three contain some element of historical fact and may even be loosely connected to one another.
1. The first story is about Saint Boniface.
In the 8th century, he was a missionary among some of the most remote tribes in Germany. He is perhaps best known for what is called “the carving of Thor’s oak tree.”.
It is said that upon entering a town in northern Hesse, Boniface learned that the people worshipped the god Thor, whom they believed lived in a large oak tree among them. Boniface decided that if he wanted to win the people’s attention, he would have to confront Thor.
He announced before the people that he was going to cut down the oak tree and openly challenged Thor to strike him. Miraculously, just as Boniface began to cut down the oak tree, a strong wind blew and knocked the tree to the ground.
Tradition holds that a fir tree grew at the roots of the oak, and Boniface claimed the tree as a symbol of Christ. Needless to say, the people readily accepted Boniface’s message, and the tree eventually became associated with the birth of Christ and the celebration of the day on which the mighty God (who could have brought a giant oak tree crashing to the ground) chose to humbly enter the world as a baby.
2. Another possible origin of the Christmas tree (and probably the most likely one) can be traced back to medieval religious plays in Germany.
Among the most popular of these works was “Paradise.” It began with the creation of humankind, depicted the first sin, and showed Adam and Eve being expelled from Paradise (the Garden of Eden). It concluded with the promise of a coming Savior, a fact that made the play particularly beloved during the Christmas season. In the play, the Garden of Eden was most often represented by a fir tree hung with apples and surrounded by candles.
3. A third tradition regarding the origin of the Christmas tree attributes it to Martin Luther, a prominent leader of the Reformation.
Some say that on Christmas Eve, Luther was walking in the woods near his home. He was struck by the beauty of the way the snow glistened in the moonlight on the tree branches. In an effort to recreate this wonderful sight for his family, he cut down the tree, brought it into his home, and decorated it with candles.
