| The following column appeared in The River Reporter on December 10, 1998. |
By Bert S. Feldman
The Recusant Reporter
Thursday, December, 1998
[Editor's note: This is the second part in a discussion of Christmas customs and the Yuletide season. Last week The Recusant Reporter documented early confusion and conflicting dates about the Year 1. This column centers on more recent holiday traditions.]
Some people object to the use of the word Xmas as being irreverent. The letter 'x' is the Greek letter 'chi' and is simply an abbreviation for the word "Christ."
The Christmas tree was a similar exchange of pagan religious symbols. Odin Martin Luther is said to have introduced lighting trees with flaming candles. Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, introduced the tree from Germany in about 1840, and his countrymen from Germany brought the tradition to America when they came to this country.
Another pagan ceremony that originated in ancient Rome was the Saturnalia, which occurred in December. Halls were decorated with pine branches and holly for the orgies. This was also a time for the distribution of presents. We dumped the orgies but kept the presents.
Mistletoe was considered holy by the Druids. The Saxons felt the same way about holly, ivy and bay. The Scandinavians and Germans began caroling. In Italy, the family Christmas tree was replaced by the presepio or miniature tree. Mexico prefers pomades (resting places) in commemoration of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. South America, Australia, and other places south of the equator celebrate Christmas in the midst of the summer with beach parties, picnics and boating.
The first Christmas card was made by 16-year-old William Maw Egley Jr. in England on December 9, 1842. The first American card was designed in 1873 by Bavarian migrant lithographer Louis Prong in Boston. Christmas traditions were frowned upon by the Methodists, Baptists, Amish and Puritans in New England. Likewise, in the British Parliament, the observance of Christmas was forbidden in 1644 until the time of King Charles II.
Santa Claus got his name from Holland, where he was know as Sinter (Saint) Klaus, the diminutive form of Nicholas. American Clement Moore wrote the famous "The Night Before Christmas," in which Santa Claus made his debut. Thomas Nast, the great political cartoonist of the 19th century — who gave us the Republican elephant, the Democratic jackass, and the figure of Uncle Sam — also drew the first Santa Claus, complete with big belly, white beard, red suit — the works.
So, have a wonderful and merry Christmas, and while you're out doing your last-minute shopping, try and remember whose birthday you are celebrating.
