HISTORY
CHRISTMAS DAY
Places like Rome, Europe, Scandinavia and many others have celebrated the peak winter day with a grand feast and a lot of gaiety even before the bieth of christ. It was regarded as the perfect time for the celebrations as the period had a good supply of meat and wine, musts for the feast. The winter celebrations revolved around the hope of the coming spring, after the long harsh winters.
According to the historical records available, Christmas was first celebrated on January 6 according to the old Julian calendar. The day was also observed as an official Roman holiday starting from A.D. 534. The preactice was continued until when due to some disputes or other reasons, the celebration of the day was switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1743. This resulted in a change of date for Christmas celebrations, which fell on December 25. It is said that Pope Julius I chose December 25 to be the date to celebate Christmas. According to the popular belief, the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival or the Feast of the Nativity.
Christmas had a late arrival in Ameriaca, and was even faced with some hostilities. In the years 1659 to 1681 the celebaration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. The Christmas spirit was fined. As an immediate result of the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favour and celebrating Chritmas was among them Though some places like the Jamestown settlement did celebrate Chritmas with all the related gaiety, they remained an exception.
CHRISTMAS TREE
The year 1841was a significant year in the Christmas celebration in England. Prince Albert, the German husband of British Queen Victoria, brought the first Christmas tree in England to the royal castle of Windsor. and just a year later, America too was to discover the Christmas tree. in 1842, Dr. Charles Frederick Minnegerode, professor of Greek at the College of William and Mary, brought the first Christmas tree to Williamsburg, Virginia, America.
CELEBRATIONS
Christmas time is regarded as the ideal time to get away from the crazy hustle bustle and share some good time with family and friends. The present day Christmas celebration is the result of conscious or unconscious imitation of the customary celebration of the day in America.
The significance of Santa Clause is also notable in the Christmas celebration. According to popular belief, Santa Clause brings gifts and toys to all on this very day Like Santa Clause, Sinter Klass in Holland and Saint Nickolas in Germany are all a part of the celebrations. In Holland and Germany Saint Nick's visits are made on the anniversary of the historical Saint Nicholas' death on Dec. 6. Children in these countries are supposed to leave bundles of hay for Saint Nick's horse and their shoes outside the front door. In the morning they are greeted by scores of sweets, nuts and gifts.
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