Origins of Christmas

Introduction

Hey guys! I’m sure everyone’s been going above and beyond in preparing and organizing Christmas activities this month, and most of us get more and more excited for Christmas traditions and spending time with our families and friends for this special holiday.

A Festive Atmosphere

The colorful lights light up the living room, gifts are placed under the Christmas tree, and your favorite food gives the house a scent of safety and joy. Your family gathers around with cake and chocolate, watching your favorite Christmas movie while Christmas carols play in the background. Your parents tell you the Christmas Nativity story around the firewood, while snow falls outside.

Sounds like your home? It sure sounds like mine! Well, aside from the firewood part… and the snow… and the hot chocolate. It would sound something more like ice cream time around a water balloon fight, with a decorated palm tree, water falling all over.

The Universality of Christmas Traditions

Everyone has different familial or cultural traditions, and everyone gets super excited at the approach of Christmas… but where do all these traditions come from? What did they originally mean, and why are they still important and relevant today?

A Journey Through Time and Culture

Well, that’s what we are going to explore today! So, hang on tight, we’re going for a tour around time and the globe to discover the origins of Christmas!

Christmas in Ancient Times

Although Christmas is largely known as a family holiday with lots of marketing and consumerism, and many know about its Christian meaning, Christmas holds its roots in ancient times, before Christianity was born.

Shaping of Christmas Traditions

Christmas as we know it today was shaped by time, cultural adaptations, and modernism. But a lot of the famous Christmas traditions find their roots in ancient celebrations and ancient cultures. Let’s take a look at the ancient, pre-Christian era. :)

Winter Solstice Celebrations

In ancient times, in the Northern Hemisphere, northern cultures celebrated the Winter Solstice (the shortest day and the longest night of the year) around December 21st or 22nd. This feast mainly celebrated the rebirth of the sun/the main local god and the gradual beginning of longer days and featured values such as renewal, thanksgiving for the harvest, and hope as it marked the end of winter and the gradual return of summer.

Different Cultures and Their Celebrations

Although some values remained the same, it was present in different forms and changes of meaning throughout different cultures. Some examples would be:

Yule Festival

• Origin: Celebrated by the Norse people, who inhabited the regions of today’s Scandinavia and Northern Nations, including present-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and parts of Finland.

• Traditions: The festival was a 12-day celebration that began around the Winter Solstice. The Norse people gathered around bonfires and held feasts. They also decorated their settlements with evergreen trees and wreaths to symbolize eternal life.

• Values: Community, renewal, and gratitude for nature’s cycle. The Norse also honored their gods, especially Odin. Storytelling was used to strengthen social bonds.

Saturnalia

• Origin: A Roman festival, largely celebrated all throughout the Empire, which extended all around the Mediterranean Sea, stretching across Europe, parts of the Middle East, and North Africa.

• Traditions: Saturnalia was a feast mainly honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, and emphasizing values such as joy, equality, and abundance, as well as the importance of community and gratitude for the harvest. Traditional features included role reversals between slaves and masters and gift-giving, as well as feasts. The villages and local homes were decorated with greenery and candles, creating a festive atmosphere.

Alban Arthan

• Origin: A Celtic celebration – the Celts were spread across a large area but included modern-day Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France (then Gaul), and even some parts of Central-Eastern Europe.

• Traditions: During Alban Arthan, the Celts celebrated the rebirth of the sun. Their ceremonies included rituals related to stone circles such as Stonehenge. Fire and light symbolized hope and warmth.

• Values: Renewal, reverence for nature, and spiritual reflection. The solstice represented balance and the ‘eternal cycle of life and death.’

Celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere

As all of the above festivals took place in Northern Hemisphere Europe, it’s nice to also explore a variation of the celebration in a Southern Hemisphere ancient culture.

Inti Raymi

• Origin: An Inca festival celebrated during the Southern Hemisphere winter solstice, in June. The Incas were an ancient culture located in South America, around the Andes region.

• Traditions: The celebration of the sun god Inti was held in what is now Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Bolivia and Chile. The Incas’ capital was Cusco, located in today’s Peru. The festival’s traditions included sacrifices, music, and dances to honor Inti and ensure fertility.

• Values: Gratitude and respect for the natural world and its cycles. The Incas sought harmony between humanity and the divine.

Influence on Modern-Day Traditions

A lot of the traditions of these original festivals were modified and adapted to modern-day traditions. But we’ll see more about it in a further section. :)

Christian Transition

The birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on Christmas Day, took place around 4-6 BCE, though the exact date is not known.

Early Christian Perspectives

Early Christians didn’t celebrate Jesus’ birth the same way we do today—they actually didn’t celebrate it at all. Instead, they focused on commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Easter), emphasizing its theological significance as a means of salvation. However, as Christianity grew and spread across the Roman Empire, the celebration of Jesus’ birth gradually became more significant.

The First Recorded Celebration of Christmas

The first recorded celebration of Christmas as Jesus’ birth occurred in the 4th century, in 336 AD, in Rome. This took place during the reign of Emperor Constantine, who had recently converted to Christianity. Among the Roman Empire's winter solstice festivals was Sol Invictus (“Unconquered Sun”), celebrated on December 25th to honor the sun god and the rebirth of the sun. It is believed that the early Church chose this date for Christmas to celebrate Jesus Christ, the “Sun of Righteousness,” providing a Christian alternative to the pagan holiday.

The Anno Domini (AD) System

In the 6th century (525 AD), a monk named Dionysius Exiguus developed the Anno Domini (AD) system while calculating the date of Easter for the Christian Church. Dionysius attempted to determine the exact year of Christ’s birth. Although his calculation was not entirely accurate, he came close and introduced the AD system, which divided history into two eras: BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini), Latin for “In the Year of our Lord.”

The system was not immediately adopted but gained acceptance over time. It became permanently integrated into the Gregorian Calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 AD.

The Origin of the Name "Christmas"

The term "Christmas" originates from the Old English Cristes Maesse, meaning “Christ’s Mass,” referring to the religious service held in honor of Christ’s birth. Over time, this term evolved into "Christmas" in Middle English and became the widely recognized name for the holiday.

Middle Ages

During the Medieval Ages (5th-15th centuries), Christmas became firmly established throughout Europe. Ancient or pagan traditions were gradually imbued with Christian meanings while retaining their original symbols, becoming Christian Christmas traditions. These practices traveled across Europe, adapting to local cultures and times, with some evolving into universally recognized traditions while others remained tied to specific peoples and regions.

Key Traditions and Their Adaptations

The 12 Days of Christmas

Originally part of the Yule festival, the Church adopted this tradition, shifting its timeline to start on December 25th and end on January 6th. The period was considered by the Church to be one of divine favor and grace, with people using it for rest and festive activities.

Carnivals and Role Reversals

The Christmas season often coincided with carnival celebrations, incorporating fun activities, festive attire, and markets. This tradition originated from Midwinter festivals and Saturnalia, a Roman celebration where slaves and masters switched roles. The Christian Church adapted this practice, where lower classes might temporarily exchange roles with clergy or nobility, symbolizing humility and the reversal of social order exemplified in the life of Jesus.

Theological Shifts

The Middle Ages marked a deeper focus on spiritual reflection during Christmas. The Church emphasized the Incarnation of Christ—the belief that God became flesh in Jesus—prompting theological debates about His divine and human nature.

Church Fathers highlighted Christ’s birth as the moment God entered human history tangibly, affirming Jesus' dual nature. Christmas increasingly became associated with salvation, shifting the focus from communal feasting and renewal to worship and reflection.

Advent

The Advent season, preceding Christmas, emerged as a solemn period of penance, fasting, and spiritual preparation, emphasizing the mystery of the Incarnation. This four-week observance contrasted with the joyful celebrations of Christmas Day and the subsequent 12 Days of Christmas.

Worship and Community

The holiday gained spiritual significance, with Midnight Mass and other church services becoming central to Christmas celebrations. These gatherings offered a time for reflection, prayer, and worship, bringing communities together for a shared purpose.

Nativity Plays and Religious Theatre

The Church used drama to convey religious stories, with Nativity plays in churches or public spaces becoming an effective way to spread Christian teachings. These plays combined religious education with inclusive celebration.

Carolling

Carolling evolved from the custom of singing for money or food. Groups sang Christmas or Advent-specific songs at night throughout cities, combining Christian worship with celebratory traditions. Over time, secular songs were incorporated into carolling.

Charity and Family

Charity became a central feature of Christmas, with traditions such as donating food, money, or gifts and hosting feasts for the poor. Public acts of giving were seen as a way to honor Christ and demonstrate kindness, drawing parallels to the Magi’s gifts to Baby Jesus.

The season also emphasized family gatherings and unity, marking a shift from tribal or communal values to familial and domestic ones. Christian virtues were taught within homes, strengthening bonds and fostering piety.

Legacy

The Middle Ages solidified Christmas as a season rather than a single holiday. With its roots in both Christian theology and adapted traditions, it became a celebration of spiritual reflection, charity, and joy, laying the foundation for many modern Christmas customs.

The Victorian Era

The Victorian era saw an increasing transformation of Christmas into a family celebration, and the rise of iconic international Christmas elements.

Christmas Tree and Decorations

An example of this would be the Christmas tree and decorations. Evergreen trees were an important decoration item in the Yule festival, symbolizing eternal life. The use of evergreen trees as a Christmas decoration symbolizing eternal life through the gift of Salvation of Jesus Christ continued and developed in Medieval Germany and its surroundings. Lights and candles as decorations were part of the Saturnalia festival, also present throughout generations at Christmas to make the environment festive and warm. Fire and light symbolized hope and warmth in the Alban Arthan festival.

These elements had been previously present in different European regions, but they were normalized and imported to England in the 19th century under the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Arthur, with the Christmas tree becoming a central symbol of the holiday.

The Advent Crown

The Advent Crown also saw its origin during this period in Germany. The first Advent crown is believed to have been made by Johann Hinrich Wichern, a German pastor, who was working with poor children. In 1839, it is said that he used a crown with 24 small candles to help the children count the days of Advent, one candle a day. It was a new tool to help children understand the period of waiting. Throughout the 19th century, the wreath design was developed, commonly with four candles, one for each Sunday of the month of December, leading to Christmas. Each candle symbolized its own value: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

In modern times, it is used widely throughout different Christian denominations, especially during church services and at home. It still involves four candles, typically three purple, one pink, and sometimes a white candle in the center for Christmas Eve. It is surrounded by greenery as a symbol of life and hope, which the Advent represents. Each week, a new candle is lit, while Advent-specific prayers and hymns are lifted by the congregation.

Mistletoe and Kissing Tradition

Another element that gained increasing popularity during this period was the mistletoe, specifically the practice of kissing under the mistletoe. Mistletoe dates back to Celtic and Druidic practices, where it was believed to have magical properties, particularly the ability to heal and promote fertility. It was initially used to bring good luck and protect against evil spirits.

The mistletoe was also important in Norse mythology, where it was linked to Balder, the Norse god of light and goodness. According to the myth, mistletoe was the weapon that led to Balder’s death, but it was later linked to peace and reconciliation, as well as love.

Throughout the centuries, mistletoe gained Christian symbolism, and in some traditions, it represented peace and reconciliation, which were two of the main themes of the Nativity story. Kissing under the mistletoe became a sign of goodwill and affection.

In 17th century England, mistletoe was a common Christmas decoration, and the practice of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe became more and more popular. A new belief linked to the ancient one said that an exchanged kiss under the mistletoe had a special connection with fertility and romantic love.

Globalisation & Modern-Day Era

With the Renaissance Era, an increasing number of elements were secularised, losing some of their spiritual symbols and meaning. With the rise of social media, television, and globalisation, a lot of these elements lost their original spiritual meanings. With economic development and the rise of the United States as a unipolar global power, the holiday became more and more focused on romantic love (from the mistletoe arriving in the US in the 18th century) and consumerism.

There would be a lot more traditions to explore, but it would take a very long time, and you would probably get bored before we get halfway through, so I thought I’d shorten it a little for you. XD And no, I did not forget about Santa Claus, but he is not as old as he pretends to be, you know?

Santa Claus

Santa Claus was inspired by:

• Saint Nicholas: A 4th-century Christian bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey) who was known for his generosity and gift-giving. The story also merged with folklore from Northern Europe, including traditions of gift-bringers like the Dutch Sinterklaas (from which Santa’s name most likely originated). Traditionally, children on the naughty list would receive charcoal instead of sweets, and people would put cookies and milk on a plate for Santa to drink and eat after descending through the chimney.

• Clement Clarke Moore’s Poem: In 1823, the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (also known as The Night Before Christmas) helped shape the modern image of Santa Claus, describing his sleigh, reindeer, and jolly personality.

• Coca Cola’s Influence: In the 1930s, Coca-Cola advertisements popularised the modern image of Santa Claus as we know him today: a plump, jolly man in a red suit.

Modern Christmas Traditions

Movies, Christmas series, romantic stories, and card-giving became more and more popular with the rise of television, social media, and now Netflix. It is often considered a tradition to watch Christmas movies, although this is a very recent tradition, dating back to the 21st century.

Christmas Food Around the World

Each culture and place has its own traditional foods. While the United States might see Christmas dinner as turkey with cranberry sauce, Germany might associate it with beer and pretzels, and France with complicatedly baked sweets. In Romania, the holiday features Sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) and Cozonac (sweet bread). Each place has its own celebration and traditional meals.

New Traditions

As Captain Andrew from Operation Christmas Drop (really good movie, by the way—surprising how traditional values work in non-religious modern-day contexts; you should watch it) said, there’s always room for new traditions. This is an important part of modern celebrations of Christmas: while in the past, everyone followed the same communal traditions, today, everyone has their own familial or personal Christmas traditions, and everyone is free to create new ones.

Conclusion

Today, everyone celebrates Christmas differently, even though there are some elements that transcend cultures and locations. However, each culture has its own way of celebrating Christmas. Some traditions are linked to the local weather, such as snowball fights or making snowmen, and cannot be reproduced in other climates. However, new ones, such as Christmas snorkelling, may be set up or invented. Some other traditions may be cut off or changed due to cultural or religious reasons.

Countries with a majority Christian population, such as Romania, view Christmas as a religious celebration, while secular countries such as France may view it as a cultural celebration. Some other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, may not celebrate it due to its strong connection to Christian elements.

So yeah, this should pretty much be it. XDD I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it! Have a lovely day, and a blessed celebration with your family and friends!

Merry Christmas!