It’s here! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
No matter how you celebrate, we wish you the best of the season and a little magic along the way. On that note, how about a little “Christmas 101” to stuff your stocking?
We celebrate it every year, but how many of us really know where all the traditions of Christmas came from? The word Christmas comes from the Latin word for “Christ’s Mass.” Most historians peg the first Celebration of Christmas to the Romans in 336 A.D. They set December 25th as the day in order to eclipse a popular pagan holiday in Rome. Amazingly, you can thank the 1823 poem “The Night Before Christmas” and the Civil War for the birth of Santa Claus as we know him today.
Virginia Tech Civil War historian James Robertson says artist Thomas Nast drew his conception of Santa Claus from that poem in order to cheer up the soldiers fighting that war. The poem by Clement Moore gave us the reindeer, the sleigh, the chimney and the bag of toys. Nast’s illustration led to the concepts of Santa’s workshop, Santa reading letters and the “good” and “bad” list.
Santa is based on a real person, Saint Nicholas, who lived in the Middle Ages and was beloved for his generosity and kindness and the miracles he worked for the poor and unhappy. The tradition of Santa bringing gifts and others exchanging gifts is believed to have started with the wise men, or Magi, bringing gifts to baby Jesus. The Biblical writings of Matthew and Luke gave rise to the concept of the star, the manger, the swaddling clothes, as well as the shepherds and angels. Most manger scenes reflect this description.
The Saint Nicholas of the Middle Ages is said to have left gifts of gold coins in the stockings of three poor girls who needed the money for their wedding dowries. The girls had hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. Money has now been replaced by edible goodies and small toys in Christmas stockings. You can thank the Italians for the tradition of putting a lump of coal in the stockings of naughty children.
The Germans first used Christmas trees to mark the holiday back in 700 A.D. The tradition spread to England and immigrants brought it to America. In the 16th century, Martin Luther is credited with putting the first candles on a tree, and electric lights appeared in 1882. In Victorian times, people started decorating trees with candies and cakes decorated with ribbons. Woolworth’s first sold manufactured ornaments.
Christmas cards came on the scene in 1843 in London and in America in 1846. The Scandinavians introduced the world to the idea of kissing under mistletoe as a way of honoring the goddess of love, Frigga. Dreaming of a white Christmas sprung from one of the best-selling songs of all time, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which was first heard in 1942. Last but not least, contrary to what many people believe, the use of the letter “X” instead of Christ for Christmas is not taking Christ out of Christmas — “X” actually comes from Xristos, the Greek word for Christ!
As we sink into our own traditions today, we will take a peek around the world to see what else is happening and offer a few tips for your own special day.
First of all, Santa might be ready to kick his feet up, but Mother Nature is ready to work. A white Christmas could be causing travel delays in the Northeast. The National Weather Service says a storm system is bringing “a wintry mix” of snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic making for hazardous travel across the region. Forecasters say cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC will see Christmas Day travel issues. If you’re heading to an airport today, it may be best to call ahead as the flight tracking website FlightAware shows nearly 300 delays so far along with dozens of cancellations.
Pope Francis is calling for hope this Christmas. The pontiff celebrated his 12th Christmas Eve Mass last night at the Vatican. In his sermon, Francis said hope calls us “to be upset with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them.” The pope also opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica last night, marking the official start of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which is expected to bring over 30-million tourists to Rome next year.
Across the pond, King Charles will break with tradition this year as he delivers his Christmas message at a church that used to be a hospital chapel. This is the first time in more than nearly two decades that the annual Christmas Day message isn’t being recorded at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The 76-year-old royal is currently battling cancer. Reports say his treatment will continue into next year and that it’s going well.
Here in our Union, from a white Christmas to the White House, President Biden signed 50 new bills into law on Christmas Eve. Biden spent yesterday signing dozens of bipartisan measures, including Paris Hilton’s bill to protect teenagers living in residential treatment facilities, a bill setting anti-hazing standards on college campuses, and a bill preventing members of Congress from collecting pensions if convicted of certain crimes. Biden also passed a bill making the bald eagle the official bird of the United States.
Christmas Day is usually filled with good cheer and family. But even that can lead to fighting. Brie Tennis with more on how to navigate and keep the peace.
Families that celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah will be able to do so on the same night for the first time in nearly two decades. The Hebrew date for the first night of Hanukkah is the 25th of the month of Kislev, which falls on December 25th this year. According to the Hebrew calendar and date-converter website Hebcal, this has happened only four previous times in the 20th and 21st centuries: 2005, 1959, 1921 and 1910. The next so-called Chrismukkah will take place in 2035. The eight-night celebration of Hanukkah, also called the festival of lights, begins Wednesday night at sundown.
If you are looking for some family fun, CLICK HERE FOR EVENTS, LIGHTS, AND HOLIDAY HOORAYS!
Finally, what about those meals? Christmas dinner is the last big eating holiday of the year. Brie Tennis breaks down what you’re consuming and how to burn it off.
Here’s hoping at the end of it all, that your hearts are even more full than your bellies. Here’s to a day filled with wonder, love, and perhaps just a little bit of magic along the way.
Wishing you and yours all of the best today and beyond.
Thanks for stopping by!
