Christmas Is Here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope Santa brought you lots of stuff. Even if you were naughty.
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United States…where all nations and traditions blend together. Indeed, our Christmas celebrations would indicate just that. We have carols from England and Australia and trees from Germany. Santa Claus, or St. Nick. in a red suit originated in Scandinavia and his arrival through the chimney to fill stockings is reminiscent of the Netherlands. His sleigh drawn by reindeer began in Switzerland, and our parades may be a carry-over from Latin processions. Of course the traditional feasting is typical of all nations. CaliforniaMall.com

North America: Santa Claus
China: Shengdan Laoren
England: Father Christmas
France Pere Noel
Germany: Christindl, the Christ Child.
Greece: Hagios Nikolaos
Italy: Babbo Natale
Spain: Papa Noel
Japan: Santa no ojisan
Sweden: Jultomten
Norway: På Norsk
Netherlands: Kerstman
Finland: Joulupukki
Holland: Sinter Klaas
Russia: Ded Moroz
Lone-Star.net

The history of Christmas…is a varied and riotous story, one that actually predates the birth of Christ. Early Europeans marked the year’s longest night — the winter solstice — as the beginning of longer days and the rebirth of the sun. They slaughtered livestock that could not be kept through the winter and feasted from late December through January. German pagans honored Oden, a frightening god who flew over settlements at night, blessing some people and cursing others. The Norse in Scandinavia celebrated yuletide, and each family burnt a giant log and feasted until it turned to ash.

In Rome, people celebrated the raucous festival of Saturnalia from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24 in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The celebration consisted of a carnival-like period of feasting, carousing, gambling, gift-giving and upended social positions. Slaves could don their masters’ clothes and refuse orders and children had command over adults. Two other Roman festivals, Juvenalia, a feast in honor of Rome’s children, and Mithras, a celebration in honor of the infant god Mithra, also fell near the solstice.

By the fourth century, the church decided that Christians needed a December holiday to rival solstice celebrations. Church leaders selected Dec. 25 for the Feast of the Nativity. Christmas gained ground over the next several hundred years, becoming a full-fledged holiday by the ninth century, although it was still less important than Good Friday and Easter. HowStuffWorks.com

Oh so much more at Christmas around the World

Related posts:

1. Christmas Is Coming Vol. 3
2. Christmas Is Coming Vol. 2