| End Time Warriors |
| Christmas |
Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly
above all that we could ask or think
according to the power that works in us.
Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly
above all that we could ask or think
according to the power that works in us.
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday held on December 25 to commemorate the birth of
Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. The date is not known to be the actual birth date of
Jesus, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine
months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, the date of the
winter solstice on the ancient Roman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals.
Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the
beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.
Although a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians,
and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and
origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of
greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations;
including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition,
Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas, including North America, Australia
and Ireland) is a popular folklore figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts
for children.
Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened
economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a
significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of
Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of
the world.
Etymology
The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the
Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in
1038. "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In
Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has
been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century. Hence, Xmas is
sometimes used as an abbreviation for Christmas.
Celebration
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in most countries of the
world, even in many whose populations are not majority Christian. In some non-Christian
countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in
others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the
holiday. Major exceptions, where Christmas is not a formal public holiday, include People's
Republic of China, (except Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand,
Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea.
Around the world, Christmas celebrations can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing
cultural and national traditions. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is
popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the
secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.
Date of celebration
For many centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on which
Jesus was born. In the early eighteenth century, scholars began proposing alternative
explanations. Isaac Newton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond
with the winter solstice, which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25. In
1743, German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December
25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a
"paganization" that debased the true church. According to the Judeo-Christian tradition,
creation was on the date of the spring equinox, i.e. March 25 on the Roman calendar. This
date is now celebrated as Annunciation and as the anniversary of Incarnation. In 1889, Louis
Duchesne suggested that the date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after
Annunciation, the traditional date of the conception of Jesus.
The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early fourth
century. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placed on
solar dates: "It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect
the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of
John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception.
While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, this did not
concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas," according to
modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.
Orthodox churches
Some Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Egypt,
Ukraine, the Macedonia, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using
the older Julian Calendar. December 25 on that calendar currently corresponds to January 7
on the more widely used Gregorian calendar. Oriental Orthodox churches also use their own
calendars, which are generally similar to the Julian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church
in Armenia celebrates the nativity in combination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6
in that church's calendar (currently corresponding to January 19 in the Gregorian calendar).
Commemorating the birth of Jesus
In Christianity, Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity of Jesus, the Christian belief
that the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament's Messianic prophecies was born to the Virgin
Mary. The story of Christmas is based on the biblical accounts given in the Gospel of
Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18-Matthew 2:12 and the Gospel of Luke, specifically
[Luke 1:26-Luke 2:40]. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by
her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. According to popular tradition, the birth took
place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, though neither the stable nor the animals are
specifically mentioned in the Biblical accounts. However, a manger is mentioned in
[Luke 2:7], where it states, "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn." Early iconographic representations of the nativity
placed the animals and manger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were
told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.
Many Christians believe that the birth of Jesus fulfilled messianic prophecies from the Old
Testament. The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers,
who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant. The visitors were said to be
following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to
announce the birth of a king of the Jews. The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of
Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some
churches.
Christians celebrate Christmas in many ways. In addition to this day being one of the most
important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are numerous other
devotions and popular traditions. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church
practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western
Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made
on Christmas Eve.
Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some
Christian denominations, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing
carols that reference the event. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the
Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crib, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key
characters of the event. Live Nativity scenes and tableaux vivants are also performed, using
actors and animals to portray the event with more realism.
A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity
scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, the child Jesus,
angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said
to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived after his birth.
Varied traditions
Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have
developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For many Christians, participating in a
religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along
with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.
In many Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades in the days
preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa
Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts
are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most
countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6,
Epiphany.
A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is
served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily, have special
meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries
influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey (brought from North
America), potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince
pies and fruit cake. In Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often
is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served. In
Germany, France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various
recipes are popular throughout the world. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines.
Special desserts are also prepared: The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan, a
chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas
season. Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bûche de Noël in France,
panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes. The eating of sweets and chocolates has
become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen,
marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake. As one of the few fruits traditionally
available to northern countries in winter, oranges were long associated with special
Christmas foods.
Decorations
The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-
Christian times, people in the Roman Empire brought branches from evergreen plants indoors
in the winter. Christian people incorporated such customs in their developing practices. In the
fifteenth century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every
house and all the parish churches to be "decked with Holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the
season of the year afforded to be green". The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to
symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans
and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus
at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.
Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularized by Saint Francis
of Assisi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe. Many different types of decorations
developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources.
The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by
paper chains made by children.
The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual
surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an
adaptation of pagan tree worship. The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first
recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern
Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century though
many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century. From Germany the
custom was introduced to Britain, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more
successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree
had become even more widespread throughout Britain. By the 1870s, people in the United
States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree. Christmas trees may be
decorated with lights and ornaments.
Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with
Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas
cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these
plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage.
In Australia, North and South America, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of
houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas
figures. Municipalities often sponsor decorations as well. Christmas banners may be hung
from street lights and Christmas trees placed in the town square.
In the Western world, rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs
are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. The display of Christmas villages has
also become a tradition in many homes during this season. Other traditional decorations
include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels.
In many countries a representation of the Nativity Scene is very popular, and people are
encouraged to compete and create most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the
pieces used to make the representation are considered a valuable family heirloom. Christmas
decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5. The
traditional colors of Christmas are pine green (evergreen), snow white, and heart red.
Music and carols
The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in fourth century Rome. Latin
hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were
austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism.
Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father's love begotten) by the Spanish poet Prudentius (d.
413) is still sung in some churches today.
In the ninth and tenth centuries, the Christmas "Sequence" or "Prose" was introduced in North
European monasteries, developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed
stanzas. In the twelfth century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began to derive music
from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditional Christmas carol.
By the thirteenth century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of
Francis of Asissi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language
developed. Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a
Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five "carols of Christmas", probably sung by groups of
wassailers, who went from house to house. The songs we know specifically as carols were
originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as "harvest tide" as well as
Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be sung in church. Traditionally, carols have
often been based on medieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely
characteristic musical sound. Some carols like "Personnel hodie", "Good King Wenceslas",
and "The Holly and the Ivy" can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages. They are among
the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung. Adeste Fidelis (O Come all ye faithful)
appears in its current form in the mid 18th century, although the words may have originated in
the thirteenth century.
Singing of carols initially suffered a decline in popularity after the Protestant Reformation in
northern Europe, although some Reformers, like Martin Luther, wrote carols and encouraged
their use in worship. Carols largely survived in rural communities until the revival of interest in
popular songs in the 19th century. The 18th century English reformer Charles Wesley
understood the importance of music to worship. In addition to setting many psalms to
melodies, which were influential in the Great Awakening in the United States, he wrote texts
for at least three Christmas carols. The best known was originally entitled "Hark! How All the
Welkin Rings", later renamed "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing". Felix Mendelssohn wrote a
melody adapted to fit Wesley's words. In Austria in 1818 Mohr and Gruber made a major
addition to the genre when they composed "Silent Night" for the St. Nicholas Church,
Oberndorf. William B. Sandys' Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833) contained the
first appearance in print of many now-classic English carols, and contributed to the mid-
Victorian revival of the festival.
Completely secular Christmas seasonal songs emerged in the late eighteenth century. "Deck
The Halls" dates from 1784, and the American, "Jingle Bells" was copyrighted in 1857. In the
19th and 20th century, African American spirituals and songs about Christmas, based in their
tradition of spirituals, became more widely known. An increasing number of seasonal holiday’
s songs were commercially produced in the twentieth century, including jazz and blues
variations. In addition, there was a revival of interest in early music, from groups singing folk
music, such as The Revels, to performers of early medieval and classical
Santa Claus and other bringers of gifts
Christmas has for many centuries been a time for the giving and exchanging of gifts,
particularly between friends and family members. A number of figures of both Christian and
mythical origin have been associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among
these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, Père Noël, and the
Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki;
Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Father Frost.
The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa
Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose origins have diverse sources. The name
Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas.
Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey, during the fourth century. Among other
saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts.
His feast on the 6th of December came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of
gifts. Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop attire, accompanied by helpers, and
enquired about the behavior of children during the past year before deciding whether they
deserved a gift or not. By the 13th century Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands,
and the practice of gift-giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern
Europe. At the Reformation in 16th-17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift
bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, corrupted in English to Kris Kringle, and the date of
giving gifts changed from December the 6th to Christmas Eve.
The modern popular image of Santa Claus, however, was created in the United States, and
in particular in New York. The transformation was accomplished with the aid of six notable
contributors including Washington Irving and the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast
(1840–1902). Following the American Revolutionary War, some of the inhabitants of New
York City sought out symbols of the city's non-English past. New York had originally been
established as the Dutch colonial town of New Amsterdam and the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition
was reinvented as Saint Nicholas. In 1809, the New-York Historical Society convened and
retroactively named Sancte Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for
New York City. At his first American appearance in 1810, Santa Claus was drawn in bishops'
robes. However as new artists took over, Santa Claus developed more secular attire. Nast
drew a new image of "Santa Claus" annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa
had evolved into the robed, fur clad, form we now recognize, perhaps based on the English
figure of Father Christmas. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.
Father Christmas, a jolly, well nourished, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at
Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character. He is first recorded in early 17th century
England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the
bringing of gifts. In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The
French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy,
Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the
eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost
along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is
accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the toys. His
wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus.
There has been some opposition to the narrative of the American evolution of Saint Nicholas
into the modern Santa. It has been claimed that the Saint Nicholas Society was not founded
until 1835, almost half a century after the end of the American War of Independence.
Moreover, a study of the "children's books, periodicals and journals" of New Amsterdam by
Charles Jones revealed no references to Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas. However, not all
scholars agree with Jones's findings, which he reiterated in a book length study in 1978;
Howard G. Hageman, of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, maintains that the tradition of
celebrating Sinterklaas in New York was alive and well from the early settlement of the
Hudson Valley on.
Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds
that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who
actually delivers them to the children's homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious
beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.
In Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary,
Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in
Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents. The German St. Nikolaus is not
identical with the Weihnachtsman (who is the German version of Santa Claus). St. Nikolaus
wears a bishop's dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on
December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht. Although many parents around the
world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have
come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive.
History
Pre-Christian background
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means "the birthday of the unconquered Sun." The use of the title
Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal,
a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian
origin. Emperor Elagabalus (218–222) introduced Sol-worship and the cult reached the height
of its popularity under Aurelian.
Modern scholars have argued that the festival was placed on the date of the solstice because
this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be
"unconquered." Several early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of
Jesus. "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...
Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote. John Chrysostom also commented on the connection:
Although Dies Natalis Solis Invicti has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly
speculation, the only ancient source for it is a single mention in the Chronography of 354.
"While the winter solstice on or around the 25th of December was well established in the
Roman imperial calendar, there is no evidence that a religious celebration of Sol on that day
antedated the celebration of Christmas, and none that indicates that Aurelian had a hand in
its institution," according to modern Sol scholar Steven Hijmans.
Winter festivals
A winter festival was the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included
the fact that less agricultural work needs to be done during the winter, as well as an
expectation of better weather as spring approached. Modern Christmas customs include: gift-
giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman
New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from Germanic feasts. Pagan Scandinavia
celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in the late December to early January period. As
Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan traditions had a major influence
on Christmas. Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the word Yule is synonymous
with Christmas, a usage first recorded in 900.
Christian feast
The New Testament does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. Around AD 200, Clement of
Alexandria wrote that a group in Egypt celebrated the nativity on 25 Pashons. This
corresponds to May 20. Tertullian (d. 220) does not mention Christmas as a major feast day
in the Church of Roman Africa. However, in Chronographai, a reference work published in
221, Sextus Julius Africanus suggested that Jesus was conceived on the spring equinox,
popularizing the idea that Christ was born on December 25. The equinox was March 25 on
the Roman calendar, so this implied a birth in December. De Pascha Computus, a calendar of
feasts produced in 243, gives March 28 as the date of the nativity. In 245, the theologian
Origen of Alexandria stated that, "only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod)" celebrated their
birthdays. In 303, Christian writer Arnobius ridiculed the idea of celebrating the birthdays of
gods, which suggests that Christmas was not yet a feast at this time.
Feast established
The earliest known reference to the date of the nativity as December 25 is found in the
Chronography of 354, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome. In the East, early
Christians celebrated the birth of Christ as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival
emphasized celebration of the baptism of Jesus.
Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism following
the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was
introduced to Constantinople in 379, and to Antioch in about 380. The feast disappeared after
Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John
Chrysostom in about 400.
Middle Ages
In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west
focused on the visit of the magi. But the Medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-
related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin"
(which began on November 11, the feast of St. Martin of Tours), now known as Advent. In
Italy, former Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent. Around the 12th century, these
traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5); a
time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.
The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned
Emperor on Christmas Day in 800. King Edmund the Martyr was anointed on Christmas in
855 and King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.
By the High Middle Ages, the holiday had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely
noted where various magnates celebrated Christmas. King Richard II of England hosted a
Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten.
The Yule boar was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts. Caroling also became
popular, and was originally a group of dancers who sang. The group was composed of a lead
singer and a ring of dancers that provided the chorus. Various writers of the time condemned
caroling as lewd, indicating that the unruly traditions of Saturnalia and Yule may have
continued in this form. "Misrule"—drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling—was also an
important aspect of the festival. In England, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Day, and
there was special Christmas ale.
Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival that incorporated ivy, holly, and other
evergreens. Christmas gift-giving during the Middle Ages was usually between people with
legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord. The annual indulgence in eating, dancing,
singing, sporting, card playing escalated in England, and by the 17th century the Christmas
season featured lavish dinners, elaborate masques and pageants. In 1607, King James I
insisted that a play be acted on Christmas night and that the court indulge in games.
Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday held on December 25 to commemorate the birth of
Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. The date is not known to be the actual birth date of
Jesus, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine
months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, the date of the
winter solstice on the ancient Roman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals.
Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the
beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.
Although a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians,
and some of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and
origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of
greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations;
including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition,
Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas, including North America, Australia
and Ireland) is a popular folklore figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts
for children.
Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened
economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a
significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of
Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of
the world.
Etymology
The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the
Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in
1038. "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In
Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has
been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century. Hence, Xmas is
sometimes used as an abbreviation for Christmas.
Celebration
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in most countries of the
world, even in many whose populations are not majority Christian. In some non-Christian
countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in
others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the
holiday. Major exceptions, where Christmas is not a formal public holiday, include People's
Republic of China, (except Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand,
Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea.
Around the world, Christmas celebrations can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing
cultural and national traditions. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is
popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the
secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.
Date of celebration
For many centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on which
Jesus was born. In the early eighteenth century, scholars began proposing alternative
explanations. Isaac Newton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond
with the winter solstice, which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25. In
1743, German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December
25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a
"paganization" that debased the true church. According to the Judeo-Christian tradition,
creation was on the date of the spring equinox, i.e. March 25 on the Roman calendar. This
date is now celebrated as Annunciation and as the anniversary of Incarnation. In 1889, Louis
Duchesne suggested that the date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after
Annunciation, the traditional date of the conception of Jesus.
The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early fourth
century. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placed on
solar dates: "It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect
the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of
John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception.
While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, this did not
concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas," according to
modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.
Orthodox churches
Some Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Egypt,
Ukraine, the Macedonia, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using
the older Julian Calendar. December 25 on that calendar currently corresponds to January 7
on the more widely used Gregorian calendar. Oriental Orthodox churches also use their own
calendars, which are generally similar to the Julian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church
in Armenia celebrates the nativity in combination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6
in that church's calendar (currently corresponding to January 19 in the Gregorian calendar).
Commemorating the birth of Jesus
In Christianity, Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity of Jesus, the Christian belief
that the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament's Messianic prophecies was born to the Virgin
Mary. The story of Christmas is based on the biblical accounts given in the Gospel of
Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18-Matthew 2:12 and the Gospel of Luke, specifically
[Luke 1:26-Luke 2:40]. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by
her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. According to popular tradition, the birth took
place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, though neither the stable nor the animals are
specifically mentioned in the Biblical accounts. However, a manger is mentioned in
[Luke 2:7], where it states, "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn." Early iconographic representations of the nativity
placed the animals and manger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were
told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.
Many Christians believe that the birth of Jesus fulfilled messianic prophecies from the Old
Testament. The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers,
who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant. The visitors were said to be
following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to
announce the birth of a king of the Jews. The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of
Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some
churches.
Christians celebrate Christmas in many ways. In addition to this day being one of the most
important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are numerous other
devotions and popular traditions. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church
practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western
Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made
on Christmas Eve.
Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some
Christian denominations, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing
carols that reference the event. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the
Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crib, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key
characters of the event. Live Nativity scenes and tableaux vivants are also performed, using
actors and animals to portray the event with more realism.
A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity
scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, the child Jesus,
angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said
to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived after his birth.
Varied traditions
Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have
developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For many Christians, participating in a
religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along
with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.
In many Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades in the days
preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa
Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts
are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most
countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6,
Epiphany.
A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is
served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily, have special
meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries
influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey (brought from North
America), potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince
pies and fruit cake. In Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often
is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served. In
Germany, France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various
recipes are popular throughout the world. Ham is the main meal in the Philippines.
Special desserts are also prepared: The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan, a
chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas
season. Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bûche de Noël in France,
panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes. The eating of sweets and chocolates has
become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen,
marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake. As one of the few fruits traditionally
available to northern countries in winter, oranges were long associated with special
Christmas foods.
Decorations
The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-
Christian times, people in the Roman Empire brought branches from evergreen plants indoors
in the winter. Christian people incorporated such customs in their developing practices. In the
fifteenth century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every
house and all the parish churches to be "decked with Holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the
season of the year afforded to be green". The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to
symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans
and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus
at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.
Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularized by Saint Francis
of Assisi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe. Many different types of decorations
developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources.
The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by
paper chains made by children.
The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual
surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an
adaptation of pagan tree worship. The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first
recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern
Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century though
many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century. From Germany the
custom was introduced to Britain, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more
successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree
had become even more widespread throughout Britain. By the 1870s, people in the United
States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree. Christmas trees may be
decorated with lights and ornaments.
Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with
Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas
cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these
plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage.
In Australia, North and South America, and Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of
houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas
figures. Municipalities often sponsor decorations as well. Christmas banners may be hung
from street lights and Christmas trees placed in the town square.
In the Western world, rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs
are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. The display of Christmas villages has
also become a tradition in many homes during this season. Other traditional decorations
include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels.
In many countries a representation of the Nativity Scene is very popular, and people are
encouraged to compete and create most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the
pieces used to make the representation are considered a valuable family heirloom. Christmas
decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5. The
traditional colors of Christmas are pine green (evergreen), snow white, and heart red.
Music and carols
The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in fourth century Rome. Latin
hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were
austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism.
Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father's love begotten) by the Spanish poet Prudentius (d.
413) is still sung in some churches today.
In the ninth and tenth centuries, the Christmas "Sequence" or "Prose" was introduced in North
European monasteries, developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed
stanzas. In the twelfth century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began to derive music
from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditional Christmas carol.
By the thirteenth century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of
Francis of Asissi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language
developed. Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a
Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five "carols of Christmas", probably sung by groups of
wassailers, who went from house to house. The songs we know specifically as carols were
originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as "harvest tide" as well as
Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be sung in church. Traditionally, carols have
often been based on medieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely
characteristic musical sound. Some carols like "Personnel hodie", "Good King Wenceslas",
and "The Holly and the Ivy" can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages. They are among
the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung. Adeste Fidelis (O Come all ye faithful)
appears in its current form in the mid 18th century, although the words may have originated in
the thirteenth century.
Singing of carols initially suffered a decline in popularity after the Protestant Reformation in
northern Europe, although some Reformers, like Martin Luther, wrote carols and encouraged
their use in worship. Carols largely survived in rural communities until the revival of interest in
popular songs in the 19th century. The 18th century English reformer Charles Wesley
understood the importance of music to worship. In addition to setting many psalms to
melodies, which were influential in the Great Awakening in the United States, he wrote texts
for at least three Christmas carols. The best known was originally entitled "Hark! How All the
Welkin Rings", later renamed "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing". Felix Mendelssohn wrote a
melody adapted to fit Wesley's words. In Austria in 1818 Mohr and Gruber made a major
addition to the genre when they composed "Silent Night" for the St. Nicholas Church,
Oberndorf. William B. Sandys' Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833) contained the
first appearance in print of many now-classic English carols, and contributed to the mid-
Victorian revival of the festival.
Completely secular Christmas seasonal songs emerged in the late eighteenth century. "Deck
The Halls" dates from 1784, and the American, "Jingle Bells" was copyrighted in 1857. In the
19th and 20th century, African American spirituals and songs about Christmas, based in their
tradition of spirituals, became more widely known. An increasing number of seasonal holiday’
s songs were commercially produced in the twentieth century, including jazz and blues
variations. In addition, there was a revival of interest in early music, from groups singing folk
music, such as The Revels, to performers of early medieval and classical
Santa Claus and other bringers of gifts
Christmas has for many centuries been a time for the giving and exchanging of gifts,
particularly between friends and family members. A number of figures of both Christian and
mythical origin have been associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among
these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, Père Noël, and the
Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki;
Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Father Frost.
The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa
Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose origins have diverse sources. The name
Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas.
Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey, during the fourth century. Among other
saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts.
His feast on the 6th of December came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of
gifts. Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop attire, accompanied by helpers, and
enquired about the behavior of children during the past year before deciding whether they
deserved a gift or not. By the 13th century Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands,
and the practice of gift-giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern
Europe. At the Reformation in 16th-17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift
bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, corrupted in English to Kris Kringle, and the date of
giving gifts changed from December the 6th to Christmas Eve.
The modern popular image of Santa Claus, however, was created in the United States, and
in particular in New York. The transformation was accomplished with the aid of six notable
contributors including Washington Irving and the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast
(1840–1902). Following the American Revolutionary War, some of the inhabitants of New
York City sought out symbols of the city's non-English past. New York had originally been
established as the Dutch colonial town of New Amsterdam and the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition
was reinvented as Saint Nicholas. In 1809, the New-York Historical Society convened and
retroactively named Sancte Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for
New York City. At his first American appearance in 1810, Santa Claus was drawn in bishops'
robes. However as new artists took over, Santa Claus developed more secular attire. Nast
drew a new image of "Santa Claus" annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa
had evolved into the robed, fur clad, form we now recognize, perhaps based on the English
figure of Father Christmas. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.
Father Christmas, a jolly, well nourished, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at
Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character. He is first recorded in early 17th century
England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the
bringing of gifts. In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The
French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy,
Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the
eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost
along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is
accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the toys. His
wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus.
There has been some opposition to the narrative of the American evolution of Saint Nicholas
into the modern Santa. It has been claimed that the Saint Nicholas Society was not founded
until 1835, almost half a century after the end of the American War of Independence.
Moreover, a study of the "children's books, periodicals and journals" of New Amsterdam by
Charles Jones revealed no references to Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas. However, not all
scholars agree with Jones's findings, which he reiterated in a book length study in 1978;
Howard G. Hageman, of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, maintains that the tradition of
celebrating Sinterklaas in New York was alive and well from the early settlement of the
Hudson Valley on.
Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds
that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who
actually delivers them to the children's homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious
beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.
In Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary,
Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in
Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents. The German St. Nikolaus is not
identical with the Weihnachtsman (who is the German version of Santa Claus). St. Nikolaus
wears a bishop's dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on
December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht. Although many parents around the
world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have
come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive.
History
Pre-Christian background
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means "the birthday of the unconquered Sun." The use of the title
Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal,
a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian
origin. Emperor Elagabalus (218–222) introduced Sol-worship and the cult reached the height
of its popularity under Aurelian.
Modern scholars have argued that the festival was placed on the date of the solstice because
this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be
"unconquered." Several early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of
Jesus. "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...
Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote. John Chrysostom also commented on the connection:
- "They call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our
Lord . . .?"
Although Dies Natalis Solis Invicti has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly
speculation, the only ancient source for it is a single mention in the Chronography of 354.
"While the winter solstice on or around the 25th of December was well established in the
Roman imperial calendar, there is no evidence that a religious celebration of Sol on that day
antedated the celebration of Christmas, and none that indicates that Aurelian had a hand in
its institution," according to modern Sol scholar Steven Hijmans.
Winter festivals
A winter festival was the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included
the fact that less agricultural work needs to be done during the winter, as well as an
expectation of better weather as spring approached. Modern Christmas customs include: gift-
giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman
New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from Germanic feasts. Pagan Scandinavia
celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in the late December to early January period. As
Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan traditions had a major influence
on Christmas. Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the word Yule is synonymous
with Christmas, a usage first recorded in 900.
Christian feast
The New Testament does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. Around AD 200, Clement of
Alexandria wrote that a group in Egypt celebrated the nativity on 25 Pashons. This
corresponds to May 20. Tertullian (d. 220) does not mention Christmas as a major feast day
in the Church of Roman Africa. However, in Chronographai, a reference work published in
221, Sextus Julius Africanus suggested that Jesus was conceived on the spring equinox,
popularizing the idea that Christ was born on December 25. The equinox was March 25 on
the Roman calendar, so this implied a birth in December. De Pascha Computus, a calendar of
feasts produced in 243, gives March 28 as the date of the nativity. In 245, the theologian
Origen of Alexandria stated that, "only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod)" celebrated their
birthdays. In 303, Christian writer Arnobius ridiculed the idea of celebrating the birthdays of
gods, which suggests that Christmas was not yet a feast at this time.
Feast established
The earliest known reference to the date of the nativity as December 25 is found in the
Chronography of 354, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome. In the East, early
Christians celebrated the birth of Christ as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival
emphasized celebration of the baptism of Jesus.
Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism following
the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was
introduced to Constantinople in 379, and to Antioch in about 380. The feast disappeared after
Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John
Chrysostom in about 400.
Middle Ages
In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west
focused on the visit of the magi. But the Medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-
related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin"
(which began on November 11, the feast of St. Martin of Tours), now known as Advent. In
Italy, former Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent. Around the 12th century, these
traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5); a
time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.
The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned
Emperor on Christmas Day in 800. King Edmund the Martyr was anointed on Christmas in
855 and King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.
By the High Middle Ages, the holiday had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely
noted where various magnates celebrated Christmas. King Richard II of England hosted a
Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten.
The Yule boar was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts. Caroling also became
popular, and was originally a group of dancers who sang. The group was composed of a lead
singer and a ring of dancers that provided the chorus. Various writers of the time condemned
caroling as lewd, indicating that the unruly traditions of Saturnalia and Yule may have
continued in this form. "Misrule"—drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling—was also an
important aspect of the festival. In England, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Day, and
there was special Christmas ale.
Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival that incorporated ivy, holly, and other
evergreens. Christmas gift-giving during the Middle Ages was usually between people with
legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord. The annual indulgence in eating, dancing,
singing, sporting, card playing escalated in England, and by the 17th century the Christmas
season featured lavish dinners, elaborate masques and pageants. In 1607, King James I
insisted that a play be acted on Christmas night and that the court indulge in games.