Submitted by Admin
There are as many types of people in the world as there are ways to celebrate Christmas. Since the popularization of the holiday, it has grown from being a religious day to a festive occasion that is cherished by millions of households, even in countries that are not predominantly Western or Christian. Christmas trees, real or fake, are sold in the thousands as families put up lights and decorate their homes. Children busy themselves writing letters to Santa professing their good behavior and well-deserved wishes. Christmas movies chock full of ‘Hallmark moments’ are filmed and released especially to coincide with the season, banking on the box office power of families gathered around the big (or little) screen.
In Singapore, the shopping districts are adorned with impressive light displays and the internationally renowned Gardens by the Bay is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. In Mexico, the celebrations and evening street processions start nine days early and culminate on Christmas Eve in a huge Noche Buena feast with singing, dancing, and a midnight mass. Even in Australia, where Christmas comes in the middle of summer, sausages on barbecues take the place of chestnuts roasting on an open fire as families congregate to enjoy the holidays.
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Perhaps the diversity of Christmas celebrants reflects the blended nature of the holiday itself. Our modern version of Christmas is a mixture of multiple cultures and their religious traditions and folklore. In the year 336, Emperor Constantine declared Christianity to be the favored religion of the Roman Empire and Christians began to celebrate Christmas on December 25. However, this date was already a sacred day for Romans who celebrated the pagan holiday Natalis Solis Invicti that commemorated the birth of the sun god. On that day, Romans gave each other gifts and exchanged kisses under the mistletoe. The Romans also enjoyed a winter festival called Saturnalia—in honor of the agricultural deity, Saturn—where feasts and revelries were held over many days.
Even the most famous character of Christmastime, Santa Claus himself, has a colorful and varied history. The chubby and cheerful character of Father Christmas dates back to 16th century England and the reign of King Henry VIII where he was pictured in a fur-lined robe (brown or green, at that time) enjoying good food and wine. In other parts of Europe, a similar character appeared under various monikers such as Sinterklaas in Belgium, de Kerstman in Holland, and Père Noël in France. As Christianity spread across Germanic Europe, many Yuletide traditions were adopted and melded into Christmas celebrations. One of the most notable of these was the image of Norse god Odin sprinting across the skies during the Wild Hunt, whose long, white beard and flying mount heavily influenced the immortalized persona of Santa Claus and his mode of transport.
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Just like its origins, Christmas in the twenty-first century is a mish-mash of many cultures and ethnicities. For staunchly pious households, the holiday is a time to mark the birth of Christ and renew their declaration of faith in the Almighty. For others, it may be a good excuse to take time off from work and focus on family and friends. Christmas is also an integral time to bring wonder and magic to the lives of our children and watching their eyes light up as they receive a Santa Claus letter. Regardless of their differing inclinations, most people agree that the festive season is a very special time where people take stock of the months past, appreciate the love of family, and celebrate the little triumphs of life.
However, the stockings, sleighs, and carols of Christmas may not give everyone the same warm and fuzzy feeling. Although Christians (of varying denominations) make up about 70 percent of the US population, the country is becoming increasingly diverse. This means that despite Christmas being the socially dominant holiday at the end of December, there are many other religious holidays from several faith traditions being celebrated at the same time, such as Hanukkah. Some types of festive food and drinks such as ham and alcohol may also be off-limits to people of certain faiths. Learning about the different approaches to seasonal celebrations can help us understand the beliefs and practices of other people and how to be culturally inclusive.
Whatever our religions and backgrounds, certain aspects of the yuletide season are universal. From a well-deserved holiday to a reunion with distant loved ones, people will always rejoice in the things that matter to them. This brings us back to the original purpose of Christmas: to bring light and warmth to cold and snowy times, and to look forward to the coming of better things and sunnier spring days. This is perfectly apt at this time in history, where we are finally beginning to put the pandemic behind us and move towards a more united future.