These are the remarkable origins of common Christmas traditions

pulse-ghana admin 10:14 - 15 December 2017

What are the bases of the popular Christmas traditions we observe?

Even among Christian denominations and sects, there have been debates as to whether the birth of Jesus christ is to be celebrated or not.

Even though Christmas is to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ which is narrated in the Bible,there are some traditions that do not trace their roots to any biblical reference but are widely held observed by the celebrants all over the world.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture and is said to distribute gifts to the homes of children on Christmas Eve and sometimes on the early morning hours of Christmas Day. Gifts are reportedly given to well-behaved children. Parents use the figure to get their wards do the right thing in anticipation of a Christmas gift.

Nine lessons and carols

The popular Christmas tradition originated somewhere in 1878 when the Royal Cornwall Gazette reported that the choir of Truro Cathedral would sing a service of carols at 10:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

A similar service has been instituted in other cathedral and large towns, and has been much appreciated although not institutionalized.

There is a widespread myth that the purpose of the service was to keep men out of the pubs on Christmas Eve.

Christmas tree

The modern Christmas tree is mostly traced to the symbolism of trees in pre-Christian winter rites, wherein Viking and Saxon worshiped trees. There is a story of Saint Boniface cutting down Donar's Oak , which reveals the pagan practices in 8th century among the Germans. A folklore version of the story adds an evergreen tree grew in place of the felled oak, telling them about how its triangular shape reminds humanity of the Trinity and how it points to heaven.

Other say that the Christmas tree represents the "tree of paradise" of medieval mystery plays that were given on 24 December, the commemoration and name day of Adam and Eve in various countries.

The first recorded Christmas tree can be found on the keystone sculpture of a private home in Turckheim, Alsace (then part of Germany, today France), dating 1576.

Boxing day

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on December 26. It originated from the United Kingdom, and is celebrated in a number of British former colonies.

The day is observed as a holiday on which post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas-box."

12 days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus Christ. In most Western ecclesiastical traditions, "Christmas Day" is considered the "First Day of Christmas" and the Twelve Days are 25 December – 5 January, inclusive.

For many Christian denominations; for example, the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Church, the Twelve Days are identical to Christmastide,but for others, e.g., the Roman Catholic Church, "Christmastide" lasts longer than the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Christmas cake

Christmas cake is an English tradition that began as plum porridge. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve, using it to line their stomachs after a day of fasting.

Soon dried fruit, spices and honey were added to the porridge mixture, and eventually it turned into Christmas pudding.

In the 16th century, oatmeal was removed from the original recipe, and butter, wheat flour and eggs were added. These ingredients helped hold the mixture together, resulting in a boiled plum cake.

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