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Christmas is one of my favourite times of year. Sending Christmas cards to friends and relatives, getting the Christmas tree out of the loft and decorating it every year (including a star on the top), brightens up the house in our darkest month of the year. As a Christian though, what I like most about Christmas is going to Church during Advent and (Covid allowing) going for Midnight Mass at my local Methodist Church. Singing Carols & Christmas songs probably makes Christmas for me - I sing in a local choir, and every year we have a concert (Covid permitting) to raise money for a children's charity -Action For Children https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/. In 2019 we raised over £1500 from donations.
Christmas traditionally starts on December 25th in most countries and lasts for 12 days. It does not finish on Boxing Day so I make a point of playing Christmas songs for the duration of the festival & taking decorations down on 12th night. However, other Christian denominations may celebrate Christmas at different times of year- (For Oriental Orthodox Christians Christmas starts on January 7th, Armenian Apostolic Church January 6th & Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem January 19th).
As a Christian I do get annoyed that Christmas is flogged to death by retail and the mantra is to spend, spend, spend. Christmas for many can mean new debt in the New Year. You don't have to spend a fortune, and let's be honest, how much will end up going to the tip or Charity shop within 12 months? How about a contribution to a charity or actually buying something that will be long lasting? What Christmas means to me is thinking of others especially those far less fortunate than us. Spending time with family & friends is something that money can't buy. I never tire of the story of the Nativity, how a star appeared and guided three/four Kings to a stable in Bethlehem to pay homage to Baby Jesus in a stable. Above all, what Christmas means to me is Peace & Goodwill to all men & women - regardless of belief, race, gender, age etc.
Some Christmas Factoids
December 25th was originally chosen for Christmas in Ancient Rome, this date was originally used to celebrate the unconquered sun (Saturnalia Festival
In Scandinavia, Yule was celebrated from December 21st- the Winter Solstice. The largest logs would be brought into the home which would burn up to 12 days, they feasted during this time. The Norse belief was that each spark from the fire would bear a new calf or piglet in the new year.
Winter feasts were traditional in pagan times, celebrating the end of winter as cattle were slaughtered so they did not need feeding in winter and alcohol had finished fermenting.
From 1644 when Britain was a Republic, Christmas was banned until 1660, to help rid England of 'decadence'. Ba Humbug eh?
Father Christmas was first seen in England in the Fifteenth Century, his popularity declined until Victorian times when Christmas became centred around children, and Father Christmas became a bringer of presents.
I hope you enjoyed reading this,
Merry Christmas From Me Everyone!
