Modern Christmas is known to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday, but the traditions originate from Winter Solstice celebrations in Northern Europe and Roman Saturnalia. Many classic Christmas traditions come from way before Jesus was even born.
One of the first celebrations of Christmas can be traced back to the winter solstice, the history of the celebration beginning around 3000 BC in the Neolithic period.
According to English Heritage, “’Neolithic’ (New Stone Age) people held great feasts there at around this time of year.” People played music, dressed up, and sometimes exchanged gifts.
Another people that celebrated the winter solstice were the Norse and Scandinavians, who referred to it as Yule. Yule was thought to have originated in the late Stone Age.
During Yule, people would build altars and decorate young Fir Trees with candles. They also decorated their homes with evergreen leaves, such as mistletoe. Each berry on a sprig of mistletoe represented the promise of a kiss, and one would be plucked off for each exchanged.
Yule was often celebrated over multiple days, or up to two months. It celebrated the beginning of days getting longer, and many traditions represented the motif of light returning.
In ancient Rome, around 100-1 BC, people celebrated Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the king of the gods and their beloved god of agriculture. Saturnalia was celebrated over seven days, December 17-23. Feasts were held, games were played, and households exchanged small handmade gifts with each other.
“Social restrictions were eased a little, and activities like gambling or appearing drunk in public were less frowned upon,” according to the World History Encyclopedia.
After early Christians worked to snuff the flames of paganism, many still held on to the holiday and translated their traditions to Christmas. After the death of Jesus Christ, many decided to celebrate his birthday. During Medieval Times, people celebrated 12 days of Christmas leading up to December 25. Traditions of Roman Saturnalia and Yule were combined in this holiday.
During Medieval Times, Christians attended church and sang, lit candles, and performed nativity scenes. Presents were exchanged on New Year’s Day.
During the Tudor period, children got the two weeks off of school, many attended morning church to celebrate the occasion. The celebration was still 12 days, where people attended banquets, feasts, and parties. The tradition of a cake baked with a bean or pea in it was created. The person who found the bean became the King or Queen of the feast. During Christmas, people gave to less fortunate neighbors, friends, or colleagues; charity was a theme during the holiday.
Some people engaged in Advent, which was a fasting that took place from November 30th to the beginning of Christmas.
During the Victorian period, many changes were made to Christmas traditions. The holiday was quieter and more family-oriented. Many traditions were created such as Christmas cards, Christmas crackers, eating turkey, and Santa Claus. Most of the Christmas carols we know today were written at this time. With the improvements of postal services, people began sending cards to their long-distance relatives.
Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, introduced the Christmas tree to the UK, and so it became a common tradition among Western countries. Presents were given on Christmas and Christmas Eve and opened on Boxing Day, December 26. They were still mostly exchanged either between family members or to poorer neighbors or friends.
“With factories however came mass production, which brought with it games, dolls, books and clockwork toys all at a more affordable price”, says Historic UK. Less presents were handmade now, and window shopping became a common practice during the holiday season.
Today, many people buy presents online for their family and decorate their homes with Christmas trees. Non-Christians and Christians alike often celebrate Christmas, unaware of the diverse past of the holiday.