How has the Christmas holiday changed throughout the years? It has come very far from its religious roots. Christmas nowadays is celebrated on the 25th of December. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus in the Christian religion, although the Bible never explicitly lists his birth date. The tradition of giving gifts goes back to the story of the Three Wise Men, who came to baby Jesus and gave him gifts. The Nativity scene, a popular Christmas decoration, was the event when Jesus was born. Many modern Christmas traditions come from the Christian religion. Some traditions include
In medieval England, Christmas was celebrated as a festival, with feasts, music, gifts, and decorations. The Christmas tree tradition can be traced back to Germany, but the British Prince Albert introduced it to England. The Advent calendar also originates from Germany, counting the days until Christmas. One of the most memorable things about Christmas and one of the first things that come to mind is Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a character based on a monk named Saint Nicholas who comes from many cultures and traditions. Most cultures picture Santa as a benevolent spirit of Christmas, bringing gifts to good children.
In Scandinavia, people would set a log on fire and feast until it burned out. This Norse holiday was called Yule and typically included a feast, songs, games, banquets, and sacrifices to the gods. Some plants commonly associated with Christmas come from Yule, such as Evergreen trees for renewal, Holly for hope, and Mistletoe for fertility. In addition, gingerbread originates from Yule as well, as it was used only to be produced during winter.
Nowadays, Christmas is less about old traditions and more consumer-based. One of the main parts of modern Christmas is buying gifts and giving them to people. Christmas has become very commercialized, causing some people to worry that it is moving too far away from its religious origins. According to National Geographic, 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas, but only 35% see it as “strongly religious”. This is despite the fact many people who are “religiously unaffiliated” or “atheist” still celebrate Christmas.
Decorating houses with decorations and lights is a tradition that originated in Rome. People nowadays decorate their homes with various decorations and lights such as candles, stockings, string lights, wreaths, and sometimes even inflatables. Depictions of Santa Claus and his reindeer are a common decoration you will likely see in the yard of a person who decorates. People typically have a Christmas meal with family, friends, or just each other. Generally, these meals include ham or turkey, potatoes, and vegetables.
People typically have days off work from the middle of December to New Year’s Day. People use this time to catch up with family and friends and have food and games. Another tradition that people commonly celebrate is building gingerbread houses and decorating them. So that is how Christmas has changed through the years. Maybe this has given you some ideas for activities to do with your family and friends.
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