Why Is Christmas Day on December 25?
Although the exact date of Christ’s birth is unknown, Christmas Day has been symbolically celebrated on the 25th of December since the 4th century.
The word Christmas comes from “Christ’s Mass” We do know that the oldest existing record of a feast to celebrate the birth of Christ is in the Roman almanac called the Chronographer of 354 or the Philocalian Calendar. This ancient almanac noted that a festival commemorating Christ’s birth was observed by the church in Rome in the year 336.
Cronographers of the third century were the ones who reckoned December 25, around the winter solstice, as the most likely day of Christ’s birth.
In ancient times, Celts divided the year into four sections marked by “quarter days” the days of the two solstices and two equinoxes. The winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, was the fourth quarter day. It signaled a celebratory time as the Sun began to reemerge and the land experienced a rebirth.
Gradually, to conform more closely to the liturgical year of the Christian church, the fourth quarter day merged easily with the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. As Christianity began to spread in the 4th century, the Christmas feast day was set on December 25 by Pope Julius I to align with the Roman pagan holiday. Dies natalis solis invicti , “the birth of the invicible Sun”
Where Did “Jiminy Christmas” Come From?
“Jimmy Christmas” or “Jiminy Christmas” is a direct reference to Jesus Christ and dates back to 1664, when it was first recorded as “Gemini”a twist on the Latin phrase Jesu domini. The name of the Walt Disney character Jiminy Cricket was probably based on this phrase!
Why Do We Decorate Trees?
Decorated trees were used in winter celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. Plants and trees that remained green all year had a special significance for people who lived in cold winter climates.
Ancient people hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Some believed that evergreens kept witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness away.
Romans decorated evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun god. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice.
Christian Christmas celebrations did indeed begin using the evergreen as a symbol about 400 years ago in Germany. This Christmas practice spread to most of northern Europe by the 19th Century.
Why Do We Give Gifts?
Ever wondered how the custom of giving Christmas gifts originated? No, it’s not invented by the department stores!
The ancient Romans gave each other gifts on the calends (first day) of January, and the practice spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Eventually, Christians moved the custom to December 25, although many Christians still give gifts on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the manifestation of Jesus’ divine nature to the Magi.
Who Made the First Christmas Card?
People use to write their own cards. The first Christmas card design is thought to have been printed in England in 1843. Wood engravers of the time often produced prints with religious themes, but this was the first time anyone produced these prints in quantity and sold them (1,000 copies in London) The design was of a family party, beneath which were the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you”
Where Does “Godspeed” Come From?
This dates back to a 15th century song sung by English ploughmen on Plough Monday, the first Monday after the Twelfth Day, the end of the Christmas holidays. Before farm laborers went back to the fields, they dressed all in white and went from door to door drawing a plough and soliciting “plough money” to spend on a last celebration. The song lyric “Godspeed the plough” expressed a wish for success and prosperity and was soon shortened to just “GodSpeed.”
How to Keep Cats Away From the Christmas Tree?
Either put the tree in one room and the cat in the other or…..wrap the base of the tree in aluminum foil. Most cats hate the sound and the feel and it won’t try to climb up the tree.