thechristmasprojectdiary

The book about Christmas traditions, the one I ordered via Book Depository, arrived in the post. It has been an interesting read so far, with each chapter exploring a different component of Christmas.

Traditions such as why we erect Christmas trees, have Advent wreaths and calendars, why we even celebrate Christmas on the 25th December are just some of what is explored throughout the book. I have found each chapter read so far very interesting.

Prior to the mid-1800’s celebrations held on the 25th December were nothing at all like what they are now. In fact in ancient times past, the 25th December was a day not at all associated with the birth of Christ. Instead it was a day on the annual calendar that was dreaded by many, because of the violence and anarchy that prevailed at the hand of pagan participants of many a drunken mid-winter or Saturnalia party that occurred on that very day instead.

Peace, Love and Hope were not at all on the thoughts and minds of merry makers historically on the 25th December. Merry making was about feasting, drinking and often partying with wild, often volatile abandon.

Celebrations carried out on the 25th December are far more civilized and far more child-friendly than they were once upon time in ancient times past.

Celebrating Christmas, that is the birth of Christ, annually on the 25th December did not occur until Pope Julius I declared it to occur in 320. Prior to then, different Christian communities celebrated the birth of Christ whenever it suited them to do so, and some communities made no big deal of Christ’s birth anyway, preferring instead to put their particular focus on to the death and resurrection of Christ instead.

It is interesting to read about this alternative, not often talked about recorded history surrounding the 25th December. For much of human recorded history it was a day lacking peace, lacking civil morality and most definitely lacking family-friendliness. Where once carolers were bands of drunken men singing uncouth songs going from house to house demanding food, drink and money and often also rioting, now carolers are often groups singing Christmas carols in a more reverent manner, with the hope of giving Christian witness via the chosen seasonal hymn’s content.

Christmas as we now mainly know it came about during the Victorian area, and we really have Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to thank. This history, this rather forgotten and not often acknowledged history about the 25th December has been very interesting to read about.