christmas history presentation

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History of Christmas

By: History.com Editors

Updated: December 21, 2022 | Original: October 27, 2009

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

How Did Christmas Start?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus , early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Christmas in Photos

Saturnalia and Christmas 

In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, enslaved people were given temporary freedom and treated as equals. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could participate in the holiday's festivities.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

Is Christmas Really the Day Jesus Was Born?

In the early years of Christianity , Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. 

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages , Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion.

On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras . Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the “lord of misrule” and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

When Christmas Was Cancelled

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims , English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston . Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution , English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

Washington Irving Reinvents Christmas in America

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s piqued American interest in the holiday?

The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.

In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent. , a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.

'A Christmas Carol'

Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol . The story’s message-the importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.

The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to “spoil” them.

As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving.

Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries, Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation.

Who Invented Santa Claus?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around A. D. 280. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors.

St. Nicholas first entered American popular culture in the late 18th century in New York, when Dutch families gathered to honor the anniversary of the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas” for short. “Santa Claus” draws his name from this abbreviation.

In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known today by it’s first line: “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The poem depicted Santa Claus as a jolly man who flies from home to home on a sled driven by reindeer to deliver toys.

The iconic version of Santa Claus as a jolly man in red with a white beard and a sack of toys was immortalized in 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem to create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today.

Christmas Facts

• Each year, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are about 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, and trees usually grow for between four and 15 years before they are sold.
• In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.
• When Christmas was cancelled: From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston , and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
• Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
• The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith’s 1607 Jamestown settlement .
• Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
• The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
• Rudolph , “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
• Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.

HISTORY Vault: the Christmas Truce

World War I was a brutal slog. But on Christmas Eve 1914, something remarkable happened: British and German troops stopped fighting, and came together to share holiday cheer.

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Christmas History

The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the Yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals (parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god – Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos.To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year’s festival that lasted for 12 days. The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god.The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side . To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a “mock” king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king.

At the end of the celebration the “mock” king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king. The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey. Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun. In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log.

ถ้าพูดถึงประวัติวันคริสต์ต้องย้อนวันเวลากลับไปราว 4000 กว่าปีโน้น ซึ่งมีการเฉลิมฉลองเทศกาลคริสต์มาส ก่อนพระเยซูน้อยจะกำเนิดเสียอีก ไม่ว่าจะเป็น 12 วันในการเฉลิมฉลองเทศกาลคริสต์มาส แสงไฟที่เจิดจ้า การเผ่าท่อนฟืนยูล การมอบของขวัญ งานเฉลิมฉลอง (การเดินพาเหรด) พร้อมขบวนยวดยาน นักร้องที่ร้องรำจากบ้านนี้ไปบ้านโน้น การเฉลิมฉลองในวันหยุด และพิธีแห่ขบวน ทั้งหมดนี้เกิดขึ้นในยุคของเมโสโปเตเมียมาก่อนแล้ว ประเพณีหลายๆอย่างที่กล่าวมานั้น เกิดมาจากการเฉลิมฉลองปี่ใหม่ของชาวเมโสโปเตเมีย ชาวเมโสโปเตเมียเชื่อในเทพเจ้าหลายองค์ และเทพที่เป็นใหญ่ของพวกเขาคือเทพมาร์ดุค ทุกๆปีเมื่อฤดูหนาวมาเยือน พวกเขาเชื่อว่าเทพมาร์ดุคจะทำสงครามกับปีศาจแห่งความโกลาหล การที่จะช่วยเหลือให้เทพมาร์ดุคสามารถชนะศึกได้นั้น พวกเขาต้องจัดงานเฉลิมฉลองปีใหม่ ซึ่งเทศกาลดังกล่าว ชื่อว่า แสกมุค (Zagmuk) ซึ่งเป็นการเฉลิมฉลองปีใหม่ที่จัดขึ้นเป็นเวลา 12 วันติดต่อกัน พระราชาของโมโสโปเตเมียจะต้องไปที่ปราสาทของเทพมาร์ดุค และสาบานความภักดีต่อหน้าเทพเจ้า ประเพณีนี้พระราชาจะต้องสละชีพตอนสิ้นปี เพื่อที่จะกลับมาพร้อมกับเทพมาร์ดุค และต่อสู้เคียงข้างกันเพื่อที่จะรักษาชีวิตของพระราชาเอาไว้ ชาวโมโสโปเตเมียนมีแนวคิดในการใช้ พระราชาหลอกๆ (น่าจะเป็นหุ่น) ซึ่งประดับตกแต่งด้วยเครื่องราชเต็มยศ เขาจะได้รับความเคารพ และมีเกียรติเหมือนพระราชาตัวจริงทุกประการ ในตอนท้ายของการเฉลิมฉลอง พระราชาหลอกๆก็จะถูกปลดเครื่องราช และถูกประหารชีวิต ส่วนพระราชาตัวจริงก็จะรอดชีวิตไปชาวเปอร์เซียและชาวบาบิโลน มีเทศกาลเฉลิมฉลองคล้ายๆกัน เรียกว่า ซาเกีย (Sacaea) ส่วนหนึ่งของเทศกาลนี้คือ การสลับตำแหน่งกัน โดยทาสรับใช้จะเป็นนาย และเจ้านายจะเป็นผู้รับใช้ชาวยุโรปในยุคแรกๆมีความเชื่อในเรื่อง วิญญาณชั่วราย พอมด ภูตผี และปีศาจ ในวันที่มีช่วงกลางวันสั้นกว่ากลางคืน

(Winter Solstice) ซึ่งเป็นวันที่มีค่ำคืนอันยาวนานและกลางวันที่สั้นกว่า หลายๆคนกลัวว่าพระอาทิตย์จะไม่กลับมา ดังนั้นจึงได้มีการประกอบพิธีกรรมเพื่อเฉลิมฉลองต้อนรับการกลับมาของพระอาทิตย์ในเขตสแกนดิเนเวียนั้น ช่วงฤดูหนาวพระอาทิตย์จะหายไปหลายวัน หลังจาก 15 วันผ่านไป หน่วยสอดแนมจะขึ้นไปยังยอดเขาเพื่อรอคอยการกลับมาของพระอาทิตย์ เมื่อมีแสงตะวันปรากฏขึ้นพวกเขาจะกลับลงมาเพื่อบอกข่าวดี และจะมีการเฉลิมฉลองเทศกาลที่ยิ่งใหญ่เรียกว่า ยูลไทล์ และการเลี้ยงฉลองแบบพิเศษจะถูกจัดขึ้นรอบกองไฟโดยใช้ท่อนฟืนยูล มีการจุดคบกองไฟที่ยิ่งใหญ่เพื่อเฉลิมฉลองการกลับมาของพระอาทิตย์ ในบางพื้นที่ผู้คนจะนำผลแอปเปิ้ลไปผูกตามต้นไม้ เพื่อเป็นเครื่องเตือนใจว่าฤดูใบไม้ผลิและฤดูร้อนจะหวนคืนมาอีกครั้งกรีกโบราณเฉลิมฉลองเทศกาลคล้ายกับ เทศกาลแสกมุคและสาเกีย เพื่อเป็นแรงสนับสนุนให้เทพโครโนสผู้ที่ต่อสู้กับเทพซีอุสและลูกสมุน

History Cooperative

The History of Christmas

Christmas may get buried under the catalogues of holiday cheer, present buying, and a lot of food prep stress, but the 2 thousand-year-old holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus has one of the most complex and interesting timelines of any holiday in the history of the world.

The annual festival celebrated on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, January 7, and Jan 19 depending on denomination, is both a cultural and deeply religious occasion celebrated by billions of people around the world. From the inclusion of the Christmas tree to the annual gift-giving, the feast day that spans through modern history has many traditions, myths, and stories that resonate around the globe.

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As a main celebration in the Christian liturgical calendar, it follows the season of Advent and ushers in Christmastide, or The Twelve Days of Christmas. It was first decided to the specific date in the Western calendar by Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk who was an abbot in Rome . With Exiguus’ research and biblical texts, Jesus’s birth was decided to have occurred on December 25, 1 C.E. There have been many disputes over the actual date of Jesus’s birth since, but Exiguus’ date has stuck despite them.

Prior to Christian celebrations, Roman pagans celebrated the holiday of Saturnalia, a week of raucous celebrations from December 17-25, where Roman courts were closed and the law dictated that citizens could not be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the feasting. The Romans believed these celebrations, which chose a community victim and forced them to indulge in food and festivities, destroyed the forces of evil when they murdered this victim at the conclusion of the week, on December 25.

In the 4th century, Christian leaders were successful at converting many pagans to Christianity by allowing them to also continue the celebration of Saturnalia, and this was its first connection to Jesus’s birth. Because the festival of Saturnalia had no connection with Christian teachings, leaders tacked on the holiday of Jesus’s birth onto the last day of the festival. For many years, contemporaries of the time continued to allow the celebration to continue in its lawless way—with drinking, sexual indulgences, singing naked through the streets. Many modern traditions have arisen from Christmas’s early beginnings, however, such as caroling (we’ve just decided to wear clothes), and the eating of human-shaped biscuits (we just call them Gingerbread men now).

Though the pagan celebrations died out as the pagans were converted to Christians, Puritans did not observe the holiday due to its non-Christian origins. Other Christians however, continued to celebrate Saturnalia and Christmas together, perfectly willing to have pagan holidays turned into Christian ones as more people converted to Christianity. During 1466 under the direction of Pope Paul II, Saturnalia was intentionally revived to coincide with Christmas celebrations, and at the amusement of Rome, Jews were forced to run naked through the streets of the city. Well into the late 1800’s, Christian leaders and the religious community embarked on anti-Semitic abuse of Jews in Europe, including Rome and Poland, and condoned the murder, rape, and maiming, of Jews during the celebrations marking the birth of Jesus.

When the Saxons, the Germanic tribes of Europe, were converted to Christianity, they brought the word “yule,” meaning mid-winter, with them to include in Christmas traditions. In the following years, yule became to be defined as Jesus’s birthday, but it was not used until the 11th century. For many centuries, Europeans continued to celebrate the season by burning a Yule log in the fireplace, and light a Yule candle, rather than following any of the customs many associate with Christmas today.

In fact, many Christmas traditions of Europe, and America  were not defined until the mid-19th century and were not deemed to be particularly important prior until many years later. What many look forward to at Christmas celebrations today, such as caroling, card giving, and tree decorating, were solidified during the 19th century throughout Europe and America.

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Santa Claus, one of the most recognizable Christmas traditions and one that was added during the mid-19th century, is one that originates very early in the Christian timeline. Nicholas, born in in Parara, Turkey in 270 CE, would become the Bishop of Mara and later, after his death, the only saint named in the 19th century. One of the senior bishops who attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, which created the New Testament texts, he was well-liked and very popular at the time, achieving cult status.

In 1087, a group of sailors enshrined his bones in a sanctuary in Italy, replacing a local deity known as “The Grandmother,” who was regarded by the community as a benevolent deity who filled children’s socks and stockings with gifts. Members of the cult gathered here and celebrated Nicholas’s death every December 6. Later, the cult and reverence for the saint spread north to reach the Germanic and Celtic pagans, where his figure combined with Woden, the chief God of Germanic tradition. Losing his swarthy, Mediterranean looks, Nicholas’s appearance took on that of Woden, one with a long white beard, riding a winged horse, and picking up cold weather clothing. As the Catholic Church bid for converting the pagans in Northern Europe, they accepted the celebrations for Saint Nicholas but moved his feasting day from December 6 to December 25.

READ MORE: Celtic gods and goddesses

It wasn’t until Washington Irving’s Knickerbocker History in 1809, a satire of Dutch culture, that St. Nick resurfaced. Referring to a white-bearded, horse-flying St. Nick, whom the Dutch called Santa Claus, Irving brought the character back into popular culture. Less than 20 years later, Union Seminary professor Dr. Clement Moore read Knickerbocker History and penned “ Twas the Night Before Christmas ,” where St. Nick’s place in historical myth was once again evolved. Popping down chimneys and being carried on a sleigh by eight reindeer, Moore’s St. Nick is the one that was used by Coca-Cola in 1931 dressed in Coca-Cola red and sporting a jolly face to much acclaim. And as they say, thus was born the Father Christmas we recognize today; a Christian saint, Pagan god, and commercial ploy.

The Christmas tree, was also a pagan tradition, one where the Asheira cult, Druids, and their offshoots, had long worshiped trees in the wild, or brought them into their homes and decorated them in reverence for natural gods. Early Christians recruited the Asheira, similar to their recruitment of pagan Romans, to readapt this tradition into one that was accepted and adopted by the Church. In the mid-19th century, trees became to become a massively popular Christmas item all over Europe and America.

The gifting that is associated with the holidays has a murkier past, one that is associated both with the Wise Men who visited Jesus bringing gifts, St. Nicholas, and the original Saturnalia celebrations that Christmas derived from. During Roman times, emperors urged their most hated citizens to bring offerings to them, which later expanded to gift giving among the larger populace. Later this was transformed into a Christian custom under the tales of St. Nicholas’s gift giving myths. When Christmas saw it’s resurgence in popular culture during the mid-19th century, gifts were often nuts, popcorn , oranges, lemons, candies and homemade trinkets, far from the huge offerings people see in stores and under Christmas trees today.

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For those looking to make a splash at this year’s Christmas festivities and dinners, this history will certainly give you something to talk about when the conversation goes cold at the table, as it’s full of little-known facts many people are unaware of!

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History of Christmas in…

History of Christmas in America: Engaging Presentation & Trivia Game

Explore the fascinating history of Christmas with this engaging presentation and trivia game, perfect for middle school teachers, captivating students with origins, customs, and festivities – suitable for any class setting.

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Immerse your students in the captivating story of Christmas in America with this enthralling, educational presentation crafted for middle school teachers. Explore the rich tapestry of Christmas customs and their evolution, spanning from the ancient Middle East and Europe to the shores of the United States. This comprehensive teaching resource artfully weaves together the history of beloved symbols such as the Christmas tree, mistletoe, festive wreaths, and the timeless carol “Jingle Bells.”

Ignite their curiosity by exploring the origins of Nativity, Saturnalia, Yuletide, and more. Unearth intriguing tidbits about momentous events like George Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware during the American Revolution and the Christmas truce between soldiers in World War I.

The presentation also encourages inclusivity by inviting students to share their unique family traditions, be it Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or Chinese New Year.

Ideal for history lessons or as a timely December treat, this versatile resource effortlessly integrates into any class curriculum. Inspire thought-provoking discussions and expand the scope of instruction with each captivating slide.

Ease of use is paramount: simply click on the linked file, hit “Slide Show,” and embark on a cultural adventure. This presentation and trivia combo creates a harmonious blend of learning and entertainment, perfect for a festive season class or as an introduction to diverse global celebrations.

Introduce your students to the enchanting world of Christmas history and foster a deeper understanding of cultural heritage with this stimulating and accessible teaching aid.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! We’ve also included an exciting and interactive trivia game, designed to reinforce the lessons your students learn in the first half of the presentation. The game is challenging and engaging, with questions that cover a wide range of topics related to Christmas. Correct answers allow students to move forward, while incorrect answers send them back to try again. This game can be played as a full class, or you can share the Google Slides version of the activity with students and let them play in groups or individually.

THIS ACTIVITY IS FOR ALL TEACHERS:

And the best part? Our presentation is not just for history class! Whether you’re a social studies teacher, English teacher, art teacher, or drama teacher, you can easily incorporate the presentation and trivia game into your curriculum. Our versatile teaching resource is ideal for students in grades 7-9 and can be adapted for younger or older students.

If you’re looking for an entertaining and informative way to teach your students about the history of Christmas, our comprehensive teaching resource is just what you need. Order now and discover the rich cultural heritage behind this beloved holiday with your students!

RESOURCE INCLUDES:

• PowerPoint file (includes presentation and trivia)
• Link to Google Slides version

SUGGESTED USE:

Our comprehensive teaching resource comes in two versions: PowerPoint and Google Slides. When using either version, it’s important to view the resource in “Slide Show” view to fully immerse your students in the presentation and for the trivia to work properly.

To get started, begin by teaching your students about the fascinating history of Christmas using the first part of our presentation. Engage your students by asking them questions and expanding on each slide, encouraging them to participate and ask questions of their own. This interactive approach is sure to keep your students fully engaged and immersed in the rich cultural history of the holiday.

Once you’ve completed the history lesson, it’s time for the exciting and interactive trivia game! This fun game is designed to reinforce the lessons learned from the first part of the presentation, and can be played individually or in teams. You can even keep score on a classroom board, adding a fun competitive element to the learning experience.

WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS?

Visit the Lessons in Humanities blog and learn about the History of Christmas by reading “From Winter Solstice to Mistletoe ”

For more information on the history of Christmas plus a library of primary sources that can supplement this resource, visit the Library of Congress .

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

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History of Christmas

Apr 02, 2019

310 likes | 606 Views

History of Christmas. Everything you wanted to know about Christmas but were afraid to ask!. The Assignment:. Be sure to read the notes section of each slide to learn more!.

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• winter holiday
• traditional winter solstice festivals
• captain john smith
• popular holiday

Presentation Transcript

History of Christmas Everything you wanted to know about Christmas but were afraid to ask!

The Assignment: Be sure to read the notes section of each slide to learn more! Write a five-paragraph essay which explains how the modern celebration of the Christmas Holiday reflects the notion of the American Melting Pot. Be sure to explain specific examples in your essay. This will be counted as an extra-credit homework assignment!

In the beginning…. • The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

What is Christmas?? • Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. During the Christmas season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.

Making the dark light • In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule (from December 21, the winter solstice, through January). It celebrated the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

Why December??? • At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

Naughty or Nice??? • In Germany, people honored the pagan god Odin during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Odin, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. (Does this sound familiar?)Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia in Rome • Food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.

Saturnalia in Rome • In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year. • ?what if you change that to sOn?

Why December 25? • In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. • Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. Why would this be a good day to choose???

Christmas replaces Saturnalia • By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion.

Christmas replaces Saturnalia • On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

Christmas and the Puritans • When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. • By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

Christmas and the Puritans • Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. • By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident. • Why the difference?

Christmas in America • After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. • Congress was in session on December 25, 1789! • Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

Why Christmas Trees? • Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

The German Christmas Tree • 16th century devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes • It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree.

Victorian Christmas

Saint Nicholas • St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra (Turkey) • He was known for his kindness and charity • Became the protector of children and sailors

St. Nicholas • Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). • According to legend, Sinter Klaas makes his rounds on December 5, Saint Nicholas's Eve. He is sometimes said to be accompanied by a figure named Black Peter, who carries a whip for naughty children.

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Christmas. History and traditions

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English Christmas History and Traditions Activities(PPT and activities)

Subject: Guided reading

Age range: 5 - 11

Resource type: Other

Last updated

2 July 2018

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HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

Ho ho ho merry christmas. how did we get the christmas tree ... of that first christmas night, we place upon the pine tree's boughs. a crown of shining light. ... – powerpoint ppt presentation.

• Merry Christmas
• Happy New Year!!
• People have celebrated a mid-winter festival since pre-historic times.
• It's thought that Jesus of Nazareth was born in the fall near the Jewish feast of Tabernacles. December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by a Pope, Julius I, in the 4th century
• Also in the 4th century, a bishop in Turkey who came to be called St. Nicholas was known for good deeds involving children.
• Dutch children would put shoes by the fireplace for St. Nicholas or "Sinter Klaas" and leave food out for his horse. He'd gallop on his horse between the rooftops and drop candy down the chimneys into the children's shoes.
• Dutch settlers brought the legend of Sinter Klaas to North America -- where we came to know him as Santa Claus.
• The Wise Men knelt and offered gifts,The birds and beasts came, too,And each gave tiny JesusThe best gift that they knew.The plants and trees paid homageWith flower and with vine.
• All laid treasures at His feet - All but the tiny pine." My needles sharp will harm the Child,O Father up above.But what else can I offerTo tell Him of my love?
• Then God, in pity, sent some starsFrom heaven's vaulted skiesTo rest upon the branchesOf the disappointed pine.
• " What radiant beauty, heavenly lightHas covered this poor tree!The Christ Child, filled with happiness,Stretched out His arms to me!
• And since, in happy memoryOf that first Christmas night,We place upon the pine tree's boughsA crown of shining light.

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