Happy Winter Solstice!
Doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? So somewhere along the way it became Merry Christmas baby. The name and traditions are relatively new, but the holiday has been around since the dawn of time. Jesus was just tacked on later. This end of the year party (and stressfest) we're now experiencing is the superbowl of religious activity and always has been. The ancient Mesopotamians celebrated this time of year as the time that their chief god, Marduk, did battle with the Forces of Chaos.
Early Europeans, and particularly the Druids, worshiped at this time because the shortest day of the year was seen as a death of the old sun and a birth of a new one. The Yule log is a tradition that dates back to the Scandinavians who burned it on this night to fight the darkest day of the year.
But the Romans were the ones who made things official by declaring December 25th the birthdate of the god Mithras, the god of light. Mithras, legend had it, was born to a virgin. His birth was witnessed by shepherds and was marked by a star in the sky. His lived his life performing miracles and before he returned to the heavens he had a last supper with his 12 followers, each representing an astrological sign.
Sound familiar?
As Christianity spread, the church wisely co-opted the most popular traditions of those they sought to convert. It's a lot easier to convert people if they don't have to change their habits. So in the 4th Century, under Pope Julius 1, the birth of Jesus replaced the birth of Mithras on Dec 25. And the next thing we know Burl Ives is a snowman and wearing a vest and Macy's is having the sale of the year.
Oh, and Santa Claus? He's another story. There really was a St. Nicholas, but the modern image of Santa-the fat guy in the red suit-comes chiefly from 2 sources, the poem 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, which mentioned the "bowl full of jelly", and Coca Cola, who had been using artists' depictions of the poem in ads for almost 100 years.
That's my Christmas history for the night.
"Merry Christmas, I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight." And I we miss you Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny-wherever you are.
Doesn't have the same ring to it, does it? So somewhere along the way it became Merry Christmas baby. The name and traditions are relatively new, but the holiday has been around since the dawn of time. Jesus was just tacked on later. This end of the year party (and stressfest) we're now experiencing is the superbowl of religious activity and always has been. The ancient Mesopotamians celebrated this time of year as the time that their chief god, Marduk, did battle with the Forces of Chaos.
Early Europeans, and particularly the Druids, worshiped at this time because the shortest day of the year was seen as a death of the old sun and a birth of a new one. The Yule log is a tradition that dates back to the Scandinavians who burned it on this night to fight the darkest day of the year.
But the Romans were the ones who made things official by declaring December 25th the birthdate of the god Mithras, the god of light. Mithras, legend had it, was born to a virgin. His birth was witnessed by shepherds and was marked by a star in the sky. His lived his life performing miracles and before he returned to the heavens he had a last supper with his 12 followers, each representing an astrological sign.
Sound familiar?
As Christianity spread, the church wisely co-opted the most popular traditions of those they sought to convert. It's a lot easier to convert people if they don't have to change their habits. So in the 4th Century, under Pope Julius 1, the birth of Jesus replaced the birth of Mithras on Dec 25. And the next thing we know Burl Ives is a snowman and wearing a vest and Macy's is having the sale of the year.
Oh, and Santa Claus? He's another story. There really was a St. Nicholas, but the modern image of Santa-the fat guy in the red suit-comes chiefly from 2 sources, the poem 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, which mentioned the "bowl full of jelly", and Coca Cola, who had been using artists' depictions of the poem in ads for almost 100 years.
That's my Christmas history for the night.
"Merry Christmas, I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight." And I we miss you Joey, Dee Dee and Johnny-wherever you are.
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
That is the professional protocol.
for Christmas? spending it with my family (which actually isn't a bad thing)...I never get to see them so I'm spending the whole week between Christmas and New Year's at my grandparents house....my brother just got home from Florida on Friday...I haven't seen him since September....hopefully he hasn't changed that much
what are your plans?