Christmas as a holiday period was instituted and
celebrated at about the same time as other winter
solstice festivities because church leaders at the
time believed that would make more people
participate in the new holiday period. That
objective was achieved, but people also carried over
some pagan celebrations and traditions into the
religious Christmas celebrations.
As an example, people would attend church and then
take part in a raucous, drunken and carnival-like
celebration, that has some similarities to Mardi
Gras.
During this celebration every year, there would be a
crowning of a beggar or student as the 'lord of
misrule.' Those taking part in the activities would
pretend to be loyal subjects to the 'lord of
misrule,' During this time some of the poor would
also visit the rich in their houses and ask for some
of their best food and drink. Those among the rich
who didn't cooperate would be subject to rowdy
behavior and mischief by the poor. For their part,
the rich used Christmas as the time when they would
reach out to the poorer members of society
by tolerating them in such visits or by leaving out
food and clothing for them.
For many centuries before the birth of Christ and
the recognition of Christmas, there had always been
celebrations in many countries during the middle of
winter. During the darkest days of winter for
example, the early Europeans were said to celebrate
light and birth. The winter solstice was a period of
rejoicing for many people because it meant that the
worst part of winter was over and they could
therefore look forward to having days that were
longer with more hours of sunlight.
In that tradition, the Norse peoples in Scandinavia
would celebrate a period of Yule from Dec. 21, which
was the winter solstice or start of winter, through
January. To recognize the re-emergence of the sun,
fathers and their sons would take large logs home
and set them on fire. There would then be a big
feast until the log was completely burned out. That
could take as much as 12 days to happen.
The custom also was one of hope for the Norse
because there was the belief among them that every
spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf
that would be born in the New Year.
Many parts of Europe also thought that the end of
December was a perfect time to celebrate because
during that time, a lot of cattle would be killed to
avoid having to feed them during winter. For many
people, the end of December was the only time during
the year when they had a significant amount of fresh
meat. By that time of year also, wine and beer that
was made earlier in the year would have fermented
and be finally ready for drinking.
The tradition of Santa Claus has also been an
ancient legend with slight differences or variations
in olden days from the 1700s in some countries. In
German and Switzerland, children who were well
behaved would receive a Christmas present from
Christkind or Kris Kringle. Christkind, which means
Christ child, was believed to be an angel-like
figure that went along with St. Nicholas on his
holiday journeys to deliver gifts.
A jolly elf by the name of Jultomten was believed to
deliver presents in
Scandinavia in a sleigh that was pulled by goats.
And in France, Pere Noel is the one who fills the
shoes of French children with Christmas gifts,
sweets or treats at Christmas time.
In Russia, there's a legend that Babouschka was an
elderly woman who gave incorrect directions to
Bethlehem to the three Wise Men so that they
wouldn't find Jesus. She later felt sorry for doing
so but couldn't find the Wise Men to tell them about
the error. Today in Russia, it is believed that on
Jan. 5, the day before the Epiphany or Three Kings
Day, Babouschka visits Russian children and leaves
presents by their bedsides in the hope that one of
the children will
be Baby Jesus and will forgive her.