A BRIEF HISTORY: FROM A PAGAN CELEBRATION TO A CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY
That long-awaited time of the year has finally arrived. The streets are adorned with lights and colorful decorations, as are the houses and front yards. The city is vibrant, people wander happily around the streets, enjoying the atmosphere and the shopping to get the presents ready. As the 25th of December approaches, people start feeling the Christmas vibes . It is time to enjoy the end of the year, preferably around a table with your loved ones, in front of a warm meal, opening gifts, singing songs and playing games, while enjoying good company and the well-deserved holiday for many.
Have you ever wondered how we came to celebrate Christmas the way we are doing nowadays ? It has not always been like this, surprisingly, as the Christmas we know in the 21st century was born only in the 1800s in America.
The origins of Christmas are rooted in ancient pagan festivals, which had nothing to do with the consumerism and superficial “value” of today’s celebration. In the past, ancient people celebrated the Winter Solstice on the 21st – 22nd of December , marking the darkest day of the year. In fact, from that moment on, the days get brighter until reaching the brightest day on the 21st – 22nd of June , the Summer Solstice. The return of the light was considered an important event to celebrate in the past, in fact people used to respect nature’s rhythm as they were relying on the season cycle and the relationship with the natural world was deeply important. It was a good time to gather with the community and celebrate to protect the balance and harmony of the natural world.
There were different festivals celebrated around Europe. Saturnalia was a Roman pagan festival happened during the Winter Solstice. Romans used to gather and honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. During the holiday, everything was closed; schools, workplaces, and the courts of law as well. It was a common practice to offer gifts and spend time gambling, singing and playing music, feasting, and socializing. The holiday lasted for several days, from the 21st – 22nd of December to the end of the year.
The return of the sun
In Northern Europe, the Celts and Germanic people were celebrating Yule, a festival held around the 21st – 22nd of December . It is the oldest winter solstice celebration, which roots are difficult to mark. However, it’s believed to have originated from the Norse festival of Jól. The main celebration was the return of light, so it was common to light bonfires, and feasting with the community. During Yule, people celebrated the return of the light and the start of the winter, honoring the seasonal cycle.
Sol Invictus, from the Latin “Invincible Sun”, was a pagan Roman festival that celebrated the god Sol, the chief god of the Roman Empire under emperor Aurelian.
An important part of was to light bonfires to symbolize the return of the sun. It was used to organize large feasts, and offer gift and sacrifices to the god Sol, to receive blessings and enforce the sun’s strength, for the winter that has just started. It was one of the main celebrations among the ancient romans, until Constantine I, the first Christian emperor, decided to convert the Roman Empire into Christianity.
Why does Christianity keep so many pagan traditions? As history shows, Christians co-existed at the same time of these so called “pagans”, a term which includes all the people that were not following the monotheistic religion but were honoring the
PAGAN SYMBOLS AND TRADITIONS ABSORBED BY CHRISTIANITY
Many of the Christmas traditions we practice nowadays were common among pagans as well. The real meaning of the symbols and practices, however, got lost over the centuries, so let us discover what they were actually about:
- YULE LOG: The yule log has its roots in ancient Scandinavian tradition. Men would bring home large logs to burn; they would feast until the log burned out, sometimes up to one week, if not more. It was believed that each spark symbolized a new pig or calf born in the new year. The famous chocolate yule log dessert is also believed to be inspired by this Nordic tradition.
- MISTLETOE and HOLLY: These were considered sacred plants by the Celts, believed to inhabit magical properties and protect the household. The mistletoe was used to decorate the house; it was believed to bring fertility as it was a symbol of life.
- FEASTING AND GIVING GIFTS: These were common practices in celebrations of many pagan holidays. In fact, people used to gather in the community and share meal and gifts, which often included offers and sacrifices to the gods. Nowadays, this is more reserved within the family members.
- CHRISTMAS TREE: Known as Yule tree in Germanic traditions, it was common to decorate a pine tree with candles to celebrate the return of the light. As evergreen plants resist throughout the winter, they were considered a symbol of vitality, and a reminder that life will return after the winter.
