There are so many traditions around the holiday season that it is sometimes a bit difficult to keep the origins of all these tried and true favorites in mind. Getting kids and the whole family involved in learning about Christmas traditions can be a fun way to lead up to the big day. Below are a few of the more common and at least least well known of all the Christmas season celebrations, ornaments, traditions and favorites.
Although not part of the original Christian Christmas traditions, this jolly old man his bright red suit is a sure sign that the holiday is just around the corner. The origins of Santa Claus dates back to the 4th century and a Bishop of Myra known as Saint Nicholas. He lived in what is now the country of Turkey and was extremely fond of children and very generous to the families in and around his area. Upon his death in 340 AD his body was buried and then, about 800 years later, was stolen and brought to Italy.
Over time Saint Nicholas became recognized as the patron saint of Russia. He was pictured with a long white beard, a red cape and a hat that was actually a bishop’s mitre, later to become more ornate and the traditional Santa’s hat. Saint Nicholas also became the patron saint of lawyers, sailors, children and travelers. He had a festival on December 6 which was celebrated across Russia and Europe as the Feast of St. Nicholas.
It was the Dutch spelling of St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas and eventually Sinterklaas that lead to the modern name of Santa Claus. He filled Dutch children’s shoes with treats, which was a tradition brought to the newly settled country of America by Dutch settlers in the 17th century.
The Christmas tradition of exchanging pre-printed cards was actually started by Sir Henry Cole in 1843 because of an extremely busy Christmas season. He didn’t have time to make individual notes to friends and family so he had a very popular artist of the time, John Calcott Horsley, prepare a three panel card. The card showed a family enjoying a Christmas party with the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”. This was so popular with those receiving the cards that the next year boxed Christmas cards were available on store shelves.
In most neighborhoods a variety of outdoor Christmas traditions can be spotted adorning houses, doors and fences as early as the end of November. The Christmas wreath is perhaps one of the oldest of these decorations, historically tracing its origins back to the beginning of the Persian Empire. At this time small wreaths, known as diadems, were worn as headbands to symbolize importance and wealth. They were also provided to athletes in the Greek Olympic Games, first noted in 776 BC. It is believed that these crowns, made of various types of vegetation, where then displayed on doorways as a type of trophy or souvenir. Over time they symbolized prosperity in the home and an excellent harvest, displayed close to the Christmas season.
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