Part of Santa Claus’ character may have been adopted from old depictions of Odin. Have any questions? All Rights Reserved. We’ll raise a sherry to that. This even meant servants and slaves were allowed to take control, with their masters even serving them feasts and following their orders. But the more generally accepted thinking is that pagans were indeed the people whose winter celebrations paved the way for our yearly Secret Santa indecision and Christmas pudding heartburn. This basically meant ‘leader’ and the role often fell to a child in the family, who would then preside over the entire festivities to come. But the details – which are still debated by experts, as they reach far, far back into the mists of time – are fascinating and surprising. What do brightly lit trees and mistletoe have to do with the birth of a prophet in Bethlehem thousands of years ago? There have been numerous interpretations of what the Star really was, and what its appearance can tell us about the timeline of Christ’s life. This was a week of feasting, gift-giving and an excuse for an orgy during the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice. - Lambs’ Wool, which was a mixture of ale, apples, sugar and cream hailing from Yorkshire. Mistletoe is another emblematic reminder of the pre-Christian traditions of the region. While it burned, those in attendance would sing songs, enjoy dancing and drink in celebration. Remember that story for the next time you find yourself stuck making awkward flirtatious small talk underneath a clump of mistletoe at a party. Mistletoe is another emblematic reminder of the pre-Christian traditions of the region. In fact, before the 19th Century, Christmas was barely celebrated in Britain. Origin of Christmas – The Pagan Traditions. As the story goes, another god called Baldr was driven to paranoia by visions of his own death. St Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra in Turkey during the 3rd Century. What does a jolly, portly man in red and white garb have to do with Christianity? Dozens of different traditions, many of them with Pagan roots, all weaving together into the modern Christmas. This parasitic plant is an unlikely symbol of romance and Christmas courtship today, and its importance in winter festivities is said to stem back to a Norse myth involving the infamous trickster god Loki. The word 'Yule', for example, derives from a Viking festival which was held to encourage optimism and good luck during the depths of winter. When Puritans took over England in 1645, they vowed to fight There are a lot of theories about what aspects of Christmas have Pagan elements or origins. However, here’s some festive traditions which also used to be popular throughout the UK but appear to have been largely forgotten — maybe it’s about time we brought a few of them back…. They were also allowed to openly criticise those in power, making Saturnalia an annual flowering of free speech and cheeky satire. In these solemnities and revelries, the Christians also took part.'. Christmas has a long history in the UK, but we have the Victorians to thank for many of our most loved festive traditions, including sending cards and decorating Christmas trees. The custom of giving presents at Christmas originated from … That’s because Hanukkah commemorates the triumphant rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated on the orders of a king of the Seleucid Empire, who cracked down on Jewish practices in the second century BC. In the early 17th century, stricter versions of Christianity emerged in Europe. The 12 days of Christmas involving mince pies. If you have a large garden or live close to a field with a football pitch marked out, this could be the perfect game to burn away some calories while creating some laughs. For these reasons, it makes sense that there used to be an event just before Christmas Day where all the local butchers in a district would come together and sell their goods. Baking Mince Pies. Of course, your Christmas tree is sure to be standing proudly in a prominent part of your home too! A more obviously solstice-inspired soiree is the Iranian Shab-e Yalda festival, which is marked every December. The catch to this tradition though was that anyone in a household where the ‘yule’ log was burning would not be able to do any work until it was entirely turned to ash. Many traditional elements of Christmas pre-date Christianity. Head to a Santa’s grotto with your family throughout December and we’re sure you’ll be expecting to see a jolly fellow with a huge white beard wearing a red suit. However, Father Christmas had actually been around for much longer, with various stories and legends talking about pagan winter festivals that included such a figure. These arguments can get incredibly nerdy and forehead-clutchingly complex, involving the kinds of Biblical code-breaking and cunning conjecture which would make Dan Brown proud. Head to your local shops on Christmas Eve and there is a very good chance that the butchers in your town or city will be packed with customers. Less than a century later, Pope Julius I officially established that same date as Christ’s birthday, conveniently appropriating the existing pagan shenanigans as a key Christian date. Well, according to the Bible, he was at work one day when he was approached by an angel and told that his wife was to have a baby. Keeping with the theme of tasty-sounding drinks — though alcoholic so just for the grown-ups among us — Smoking Bishops was a popular tipple at Christmastime in Victorian times. Throughout the West Country in places like Devon and Somerset, residents used to have a Christmas tradition that was along the same train of thought as the yule log. What has caused the change in look to come about is likely that we now see Father Christmas and Santa Claus to be the same mystical figure. Saturnalia is a classic example of a winter solstice festival, one of many which have evolved in different cultures to bring good cheer in the season of long nights, and to mark the sense a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. Take the whole issue of the Star of Bethlehem, which shone so brightly and led the wise men, or 'Magi', to the infant Christ. The Romans Gave Gifts at Saturnalia. Yule festivities are a mixture of customs and beliefs going back many years before Jesus was born.. Saturnalia was a festival held between 17 and 24 December, which began in the days of the Roman Empire. The saga goes onto to say that, 'Before that, Yule was celebrated on midwinter night', and that the king 'coaxed those who were dearest to him into becoming Christians'. Traditional tipples of years gone by also include: - The Whipcoll, which was a brandy and egg concoction hailing from the Shetland Isles. These events even had a competition element to it, where butchers would strive to win awards such as ‘Best Fat Sheep’ and ‘Best Fat Cow’. But joining the dots between Saturnalia, Sol Invictus and Christmas doesn’t tell the whole story. However, do you know the links to mince pies during this period of the festive season? The practice of singing carols, both of a religious petition or of celebration, is descended from the pagan practice known as wassailing in some cultures, Yule singing in others, and caroling in yet others. To find out, we must go back to England in the 1600s. Except that it almost certainly wasn’t December 25th. He noted the connection between the predominantly English tradition, “The Lord of Misrule”, which occurred on Christmas Day and an equivalent custom of the Saturnalia. Christmas Tree: It is a 17th-century, pagan, German tradition, of bringing greenery into the home, as a symbol of the spring yet to come. While gift-givingmay seem inextricably … It all just goes to show that the celebrations of even the most disparate societies, and of cultures that may seem opposed in so many ways, actually share the same human concerns, passions and superstitions. Wassailing. Today, it is common to see a twinkling Christmas tree and natural decorations such as holly, ivy and mistletoe in British homes. Decking the halls with holly. Fruitcake. In fact, the idea was that a family would specially select a ‘yule’ log to burn around Christmastime. December 25th. ), the roots of it all go back to the common consciousness of our distant ancestors. Over in China, meanwhile, there’s the Dongzhi festival of December, which again brings families together for some serious celebrating time, with traditional foods including balls of glutinous rice served in savoury and sweet broths, and traditional dumplings. An equally important influence on our festive rituals today came from other parts of Europe, particularly the Germanic and Nordic peoples. Now, the thinking is that since John’s father was a certain kind of priest who according to historical sources would have practiced in June, then Mary must therefore have conceived in December, and given birth to Jesus in September. Ahead of Christmas this year, why not have some fun and let a youngster in your family know that they will have the honour of being the chief party planner for the festive season to come? Baldr was killed, and Frigg’s tears of woe were caught on the mistletoe’s branches, turning into the white, pearl-like berries, symbolising her love for him. As for the most famous symbol of the festive season, the Christmas tree… It’s possible this is a descendant of the evergreen ornaments used by both Roman revellers during Saturnalia, and traditions of tree worship during winter solstice rites in other pagan cultures, in which the evergreen represented new life in the midst of darkness and despair. Bottom line: nobody knows when Jesus’ birthday was. Why? The Yule log itself is a relic of those long-lost days. During that century, people would prepare a hot, cider-based drink in large bowls and then proceed to walk from door-to-door in their neighbourhood offering others cupfuls of the drink. Now, you will find lots of articles that describe what mince pies are, and lots of … This pagan tradition was first brought to America by German immigrants about the year 1700. Others contend that September was the actual birth month, getting this from calculations involving John the Baptist’s father. Called Yule, it is one of the traditional Celtic fire festivals and marks the return of the light after the longest night of the year. What’s the meaning behind the Yule log? To which others might point out that the Roman Empire’s HR department probably wasn’t too fussed about the comfort and well-being of their staff, so it may well have been winter after all. Ancient people were hunters and spent most of … Although today we tend to think of it as a big, cakey confection to stuff into our faces in the rare moments we’re not gorging on mince pies and Quality Street, Yule logs were originally real, actual logs. As Northern Europe was the last part of the continent to embrace Christianity, the pagan traditions of old had a big influence on the Christian Christmas celebrations. In 274 AD, long after Saturnalia was already a thing, the Romans established yet another way to mark the season: a day to celebrate the sun god Sol Invictus. The Church absorbed customs and traditions from pre-existing pagan winter festivals, such as Saturnalia and Yule. Rather than being the same taste though, mince pies back then would be filled with a mixture of meats and fruit and spiced with everything from cinnamon to cloves and nutmeg. Interestingly, the festivities also saw houses decked out in greenery, and gifts were exchanged. This parasitic plant is an unlikely symbol of romance and Christmas courtship today, and its importance in winter festivities is said to stem back to a Norse myth involving the infamous trickster god Loki. Yule Log & Mistletoe: The Celts and Gaels burned logs as a druidic solstice ceremony to cleanse the past year and welcome the new. A Jewish rebellion ensued, and – after the temple was reclaimed – they celebrated by burning an oil lamp for eight days. As farmers’ markets are popping up more and more across the UK once again, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if meat shows enjoyed a return throughout the nation in the years to come. The most obvious precursor was the wild and madcap Roman festival called Saturnalia. Pagan Origins of Christmas – Sun Worship The pegan origins of Christmas can be traced back to the commemoration of the Winter Solstice celebrated in Europe on … The St Nicolaus tradition only became subsumed into the traditions around Dec 25 in very recent times, largely in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century secularisation (and commercialisation) of earlier Christmas traditions. Such is the significance of the winter solstice, and the long, ominous nights of winter in general, that a glittering variety of festivals have sprung up across countries and cultures. The history of Christmas decorations from pagan to present — Quartz So why that date? The meat shelves at supermarkets are often virtually empty by the time Christmas Eve comes to an end too. In centuries gone by though, Father Christmas appeared to represent the coming of spring and his attire included a long green hooded cloak, as well as a wreath made of holly, mistletoe or ivy. The Christmas tree The evergreen Christmas tree started with the pagans. In other words, Christmas was pagan before it was adopted (and renamed) by Christians. As a result, Baldr became known for his invincibility – until Loki turned up and fashioned a weapon out of mistletoe, the one thing which hadn’t made the vow. However, the term comes from a tradition that originated in Scandinavia and does not involve a dessert plate in the slightest. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms and Conditions, 8 forgotten Christmas traditions of the UK, Mr and Mrs Christmas: A short history of a very festive surname, Ouch! Of course, others have suggested varying dates for when John’s father would have been attending to his priestly duties, and there’s really no way of telling for certain. - Egg-Hot, which was a combination of cider, egg yolks and spices hailing from Devon. Nowadays, the Twelve Days of Christmas aren’t kept so carefully as they once were, although people recall them through the famous song “ The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Christmas makes no sense, and we’re not just talking about that time David Bowie and Bing Crosby collaborated on a festive sing-along. Whichever way you plan to spend the festive period, we hope you and your family have a wonderful time! As this article has shown, Christmas is not wholly a Christian invention. Named the Ashen Faggot, the practice would see a faggot — a bundle of sticks — bound with nine green lengths of ash bands burnt in a hearth on Christmas Eve. ©2021 AETN UK. Six months later, the Virgin Mary was given similar celestial news about her own pregnancy. The Roman Festival of Saturnalia took place between December 17th and 23rd, For the Roman god Saturn. Back in the Middle Ages, people across Europe would eat one mince pie every day from Christmas Day up to and including January 6th. The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Let’s have a look at 5 Christmas traditions and discover their pagan origins: 1. Mistletoe wasn’t the only sacred plant for pagans. The drink in question consisted of a steaming mug of port, red wine, cloves and oranges. All of the popular customs and traditions surrounding Christmas actually were celebrated at pagan mid-winter festivals thousands of years before the Messiah was born. The rules were simple to follow — a barefooted family member would run around acting like an unruly steed, while other participants would attempt to catch them. Gifts are a new (and surprisingly controversial) tradition. There’s a good chance that you’ll be sending out your Christmas cards to friends and loved ones, for instance, as well as listening to those classic holiday season songs and enjoying a turkey dinner while pulling crackers. One of the key parts of the tradition was that a family would need to pick somebody who was of relatively low status to become their ‘princeps’. The use of cider was because the spirit of the occasion was to scare away bad spirits and to wake up apple trees in time for the new year’s harvest. The saga goes onto to say that, 'Before that, Yule was celebrated on midwinter night', and that the king 'coaxed those who were dearest to him into becoming Christians'. Have you been inspired to alter your Christmas planning based on some of the traditions of previous generations? A paper published by an astronomer back in the 1990s, for example, suggested it was actually a comet which had been observed by other sources in the year 5 BC. "Christmas Traditions Are Pagan". Scholars have argued about the exact year and date of Jesus of Nazareth’s birthday for a long, long time. Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. The official date of the birth of Christ is notably absent from the Bible and has always been hotly contested. Pagan Roots for Christmas Traditions Primarily a historic term, “pagan” is a noun referring to anyone who is not a Christian, Jew or Muslim, who followed a polytheistic religion as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. His mother, the goddess Frigg, made every earthly object vow never to harm him. While people rarely show any excitement around the fruit-laden cakes these days, they … Please email us at: askpastormike@compasschurch.org An examination of the sacred botany and the pagan origins and rituals of Christmas • Analyzes the symbolism of the many plants associated with Christmas • Reveals the shamanic rituals that are at the heart of the Christmas celebration The day on which many commemorate the birth of Christ has its origins in pagan rituals that center on tree worship, agriculture, magic, and social … Admits this same encyclopedia, "The custom of burning the Yule log began with the ancient Scandinavians, who once a year burned a huge log in honor of their god Thor. Today almost everyone has replaced the wafers with cookies and milk for old Santa. The legend of St Nicholas came to Britain when the Normans arrived across the nation, where it appeared to quickly absorb into the British legend of Father Christmas. Therefore, it may be worth taking some inspiration from a tradition that Elizabethans used to enjoy on Christmas Day.
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