Two Christmas Truths and a Lie: Answer
The Christmas History Lie: Early Americans brought over traditions of fellowship with family and friends from England. (See the question on our homepage!)
Early Americans did not bring over traditions of fellowship with family and friends from England. In fact, the Puritans outlawed Christmas in the New World for 150 years!
We do owe many of our customs, including celebrating the birth of our Savior, gathering with friends and family, and evergreen trees (Christmas trees) to Germany. These did not become a normal part of Christmas celebrations in England or the United States until 1840, when Queen Victoria married Germany’s Prince Albert.
Read on to find out more!
Christmas: From Outlawed to Celebrated
To many modern Christians, it may seem like we have always celebrated the birth of our savior. However, there was a time in our history, and more recent than one may think, in which Christmas celebrations was outlawed. By Christians!
That’s not the only thing we get wrong. According to “When Was Jesus Born – B.C. or A.D.?” by Megan Sauter (2022), “the majority of New Testament scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. or before.” Other sources place his birth between the 6th and 5th year B.C.
January 6th, twelve days after Christ’s birth, is Epiphany. Merriam-Webster defines Epiphany as “an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.” According to Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins, early Christians marked this date rather than the birth as the beginning. It’s when Christ was recognized by “outsiders,” who probably knew very little about the Jewish faith, as “God incarnate.”
The outsiders, of course, are the three wisemen or the Magi. The Bible doesn’t specify their number as three, nor does it call them Kings. The Bible proclaims them “wise men from the East.”
Christmas is currently the most popular Christian holiday, at least in the United States. However, for centuries, Easter was more popular. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, who died for us on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33 at about 3:00 PM.
In 221 A.D., Sextus Julius Africanus first identified December 25th as the date of Jesus’ birth. However, early Christians continued to celebrate his birthday on different days. In 320, Pope Julius I specified December 25th as the official birth of Jesus Christ.
The Roman Church first celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25th in 336 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Constantine I.
On December 6, 343 A.D., St. Nicholas of Myra died. St. Nicholas was a Christian Bishop of Greek heritage who was known for his generosity to children. The church later recognized Nicholas of Myra as one of the patron saints of children and of sailors. According to Britannica.com, children in many countries receive gifts on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day.
St. Nicholas would later inspire the modern-day notion of Santa Claus.
Christmas History: First Christmas Celebrations in England
The first recorded celebration of Christmas in England was during the middle ages. Medieval Christmas celebrations combined Christmas with the boisterous revels of the Roman Saturnalia.
In the 1500s, German Christians transformed the tradition of bringing evergreen trees into the home from a pagan tradition to a Christian Christmas tradition.
Prior to the 16th century, Ancient Egyptians, early Romans, and ancient Celts all used the boughs of evergreen trees to decorate because they saw the trees that even the toughest weather can’t kill as a symbol of “the triumph of life over death.”
In 1647, during the reign of Oliver Cromwell, English Parliament outlawed the celebration of Christmas. English Protestants, especially the Puritans, believed that the Christmas revels were an excuse to make merry and to sin. Pro-Christmas riots took place on Christmas day of 1647.
In 1659, The Puritans banned Christmas in the New World. The Puritans believed that Christmas celebrations went against one of their core beliefs: “They for whom all days are holy can have no holiday.” Christmas would not become an accepted holiday in American for nearly two centuries.
The following year would see the restoration of the “Old Monarchy” (the Stuarts) to the English throne. In 1660, Charles II took back the English throne. The laws banning Christmas were revoked, and the British were excited to once again celebrate “old Christmas day.”
On December 23, 1823, American poet Clement Clark Moore published his poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which later became known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This poem helped to transform Christmas in America to a holiday for children.
On February 10, 1840, Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert of Germany. Prince Albert brought with him the many Christmas traditions his family celebrated in Germany. The decorated Christmas tree was among the traditions that Prince Albert introduced to England.
Also in 1840, Christmas was finally “universally accepted” in the United States as a holiday.
Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol on December 19, 1843. This novel shaped how Christians celebrated Christmas in England and throughout the world. Dickens’ themes of generosity, compassion, and forgiveness became irrevocably associated with Christmas.
In 1870, the United States of America finally declared Christmas as a national holiday.
Join the Conversation!
Please leave us a comment about this article! This is by no-means a full history of Christmas. Add your own expertise, or just comment on something you found interesting. Your comments make my day!
Thanks for the knowledge of Christmas.
It’s my pleasure! I love learning about Christmas and sharing with others.
Wow!!! I had no idea! Ty for the information 😀
Thank you so very much for your comment! It truly means more to me than you will ever guess! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article.