Christmas Nostalgia

A magical holiday of folklore and religious significance, Christmas warms one’s heart and soul. Many of the holiday’s customs and traditions revolve around the act of giving and celebrating life. Families remember their ancestors as they place heirloom ornaments on the Christmas tree. Daughters bake their mother’s fruitcake recipe, as handed down from Grandma. Fathers and sons arrange lights on the house and reindeer on the roof. And many read “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” to young ones too excited to sleep with visions of Santa sliding down the chimney laden with toys. Although the rituals of this holiday are carried on from one generation to the next, many build new traditions into their celebration as a way of sparking the true meaning of Christmas in their children.

Here Comes Santa Claus...

The legend of Santa Claus is thought by many to be inspired by a real man named Saint Nicholas. Born in what we now call Turkey in 280 AD, this bishop was known for his love of children and generosity.

One story of St. Nick tells how the popular bishop disguised himself and begged for money to give to the needy. Another tale reveals how St. Nicholas’ charity helped three sisters marry, as their father was a poor man with no dowry to offer suitors. When the first daughter was to be wed, Saint Nicholas anonymously dropped a bag of gold down the chimney. While he was helping the other two daughters in the same secretive way, he was caught in the act and word of his philanthropy soon spread around the land.

St. Nicholas first found his way into the American culture near the end of the eighteenth century. Back then, our image of Santa was a man dressed in white with long robes with a pontifical hat. In 1809, Washington Irving wrote “A History of New York” and in a revised version in 1812, he poked fun at the Dutch holiday figure, “Sinter Klaas.”

Clement Moore’s poem in 1822 entitled, "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," described him as “a right jolly old elf,” flying though the air with a miniature sleigh and 8 reindeer. Moore’s authorship of the poem has been disputed throughout the years with no definitive outcome. But in 1881, political cartoonist Thomas Nast illustrated Santa in Harper's Weekly as a plump, cheerful man with a white beard, holding a sack full of toys for children. Nast, drawing on folklore, gave Santa his red suit trimmed with white fur, North Pole home, elves in a workshop, and Mrs. Claus.

It was The New York Times that brought all the myths and legends together in 1927, describing the image and story of the magical Santa we know today. And Coca-Cola’s holiday advertising brought him to the rest of the country. In 1931 Haddon Sundblom, an illustrator for Coca-Cola, created clever advertisements each Christmas of Santa Claus at work! Children across the world know him by many names, but all know St. Nick as the one who brings toys to all the good little girls and boys on Christmas day.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

It is widely thought that Germans started the tradition of an indoor Christmas tree in the 16th century, and Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, was the first make it shine. On his way home one winter evening Luther was awestruck by the twinkling stars, and, wanting to recapture their brilliance, placed lit candles on his tree.

In England 1841, Prince Albert, German husband of Queen Victoria, brought the first Christmas tree to the royal castle of Windsor. A sketch of the royal family around a holiday tree was depicted in Illustrated London News, and the custom caught on in Britain.

History tells us that the Pennsylvania Germans had community trees in America as early as 1747. But, in 1848 a newspaper printed a picture of a Christmas tree, which popularized the tradition in the United States.

By the 1890’s, tree decorations were fashionable, as the Victorians had a flair for putting adornments on most everything. Christmas ornaments had made their way to the states from Germany and other parts of Europe, but most Americans decorated their trees with homemade ornaments, fruits, nuts, sweets, and candles. Fortunately, the invention of electricity enabled us to replace the unsafe practice of candles on the tree with strings of lights. As the century grew so did the business of Christmas, with just about any ornament or decoration one can imagine available for purchase.

Christmas trees illuminate every town square across the country during the Yuletide season, reminding us all to be a little nicer to one another. The White House’s tradition isn’t complete until the President flicks a switch officially turning the lights on a majestic tree. And since 1933, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center has been a national treasure. But, the true beauty of this symbol of life, love, and, happiness can be felt gazing at its magnificent image in the window of a holiday home.

Stockings On The Fireplace

In our tale of Santa Claus, we told of how St. Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down the chimney as dowry for a poor man’s betrothed daughter. As legend has it, the bag of gold fell into a stocking that was hung to dry on the fireplace. We hang Christmas stockings today hoping Santa will drop gifts into it.

Gift-Giving and Mall Santas

A tradition that stems from Saint Nicholas’ generosity, the practice of giving many gifts to children became popular in the 19th century. Stores began to publicize Christmas shopping in 1820 and by mid-century newspapers had holiday sections advertising a real Santa in the stores for children to visit. This snowballed into the gift-giving bonanza we know today, as many parents couldn’t resist buying more trinkets for their darlings, especially after they had personally told Santa what they wished for.

Sending Christmas Cards

Each year Christmas cheer is sent to friends and family by the millions through the U.S. Postal Service. It all began in the 1830’s when an Englishman named John Calcott Horsley began to make small cards featuring Christmas scenes and a holiday verse. Simultaneously in America, R.H. Pease was manufacturing Christmas cards in Albany, New York, as well as Louis Prang, a German immigrant, in 1850.

Mistletoe and Holiday Greenery

In ancient times, decorating with greenery was symbolic of the coming spring, and mistletoe a sign of fertility. Apparently, we have the Celts to thank for this custom of hanging mistletoe in the doorway and kissing those who pass under it. We all know what a simple kiss can lead to.

Christmas Carols

Caroling is believed to have started in England around the middle ages. As was the custom on many holidays, those hoping for a donation of food or money sang songs as they traveled from house to house. Today, we carol with our neighbors and at holiday parties, as it always fills one with the Christmas spirit.

Reindeers & Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Russian Emperor Vladimir visited Constantinople, now Turkey, around the 9th century and, upon hearing the charitable stories of Bishop Nicholas, he made him the patron saint of Russia. The stories spread to the Laplands where people drove sleds pulled by reindeer.

But “the most famous reindeer” is Rudolph! In 1939, Montgomery Ward’s department store publicized a Christmas poem written by employee Robert L. May to boost holiday sales. We all knew the story of the red-nosed marvel, but when Gene Autry sung the tale of Rudolph in 1949, and Burl Ives narrated the clay-mation version in 1964, Rudolph became a seasonal favorite.

The Yule Log

The Norse are believed by some to have started the tradition of the Yule log. During the ancient mid-winter festival entitled “Yule,” people would light a log in their hearth and celebrate until the log burned out. "Yule" is derived from the Norse word hweol, meaning wheel, as they believed the sun to be a wheel of fire.

Fruitcake and Eggnog!

We have to mention the poor misunderstood fruitcake! Many give a fruitcake loaf to friends and family as a symbol of the sweetness of the season. Packed with red and green cherries, nuts, pineapples, and anything candied, this little cake becomes so heavy that some jokingly refer to it as an edible paperweight. Nog is an off-shot of grog, which refers to a rum drink. Records show that eggnog has been a part of the Christmas celebration since 1607 in the Jamestown settlement.

Christmas Customs Around The World

Each country has its own way of celebrating Christmas. The holiday occurs in Australia’s summer, and instead of a tree, a Christmas Bush with little red-flowered leaves is decorated. In England, Father Christmas brings toys to children wearing a long red or green robe and children also hang stockings. Pere Noel fills shoes left out by French children with gifts, and La Pere has a light-hearted spanking for naughty children. German children put a wish list on the windowsill along with a spoonful of sugar to make sure St. Nicholas pays them a visit. Many Italians gather in Vatican City at noon on Christmas Day to be blessed by the Pope. Dedushka Moroz symbolizes Grandfather Christmas in Russia, with Baboushka playing “Santa” and handing out gifts to children. Scandinavian countries observe St. Lucia Day on December 13th. The eldest daughter, called “Lucy Bride,” wakes each of her family dressed in a long, white gown tied with a red sash, and a crown with nine candles. In the Ukraine, the youngest child watches for the first star to appear after which the family feast can begin.

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