Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Christmas Tradition Origins Unique (cont)

of Sinterklass, speaking rapidly, the name was interpreted as, of course, Santa Claus.

Santa was originally portrayed as a tall, thin stately man wearing bishop robes and riding a white horse.

His image changed for the first time when, in 1809, Washington Irving described him as a jolly stout man with a broad brimmed hat, huge breeches, smoking a pipe and riding over treetops in a wagon filled with stockings and presents for children.

The current description of Santa comes from a poem written by Dr. Clement C. Moore, "A visit from St. Nicholas." This is possibly the best known and most popular of all Christmas poems. It is more commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas."

In this poem, Santa was described as a jolly old elf with a round belly that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. Moore also introduced the concept of Santa flying across the world in a sleigh pulled by "eight tiny reindeer."

This is also where St. Nick wound up being decked out in the red, fur-trimmed suit with black boots and belt.

Moore's poem was written in 1822, and in 1863, cartoonist Thomas Nast drew a picture of Santa as we recognize him today.

Always, though, Christmas or the midwinter festival has involved gift-giving. Ancient Romans would gather laurel boughs (one of the only green plants in winter) to decorate their homes, along with olive branches and myrtle. In addition, these items were sacred to Strenia, the goddess of health.

Gifts of this nature were symbolic of giving the gift of health, happiness and affection to the recipient, primarily the rulers of the area. After a time, the Roman emperors began demanding more materialistic tributes.

The gifts, called strenae, were always given during Saturnalia at midwinter.

Homes, these days, have decorated trees to celebrate the Christmas holiday. This custom most likely came to us from Germany or Prussia.

In medieval Germany "Paradise Trees", usually an evergreen decorated with apples, were used in a play held Dec. 24 about Adam and Eve.

By 1605, though, the trees were beginning to be found in homes, where they were trimmed with fruits, nuts and lighted candles, along with paper roses. Later decorations included painted egg shells, cookies and candies.

The Christmas tree came to the Americas in the 1800s, brought over by German settlers in Pennsylvania.

It is said when George Washington crossed the Delaware and surprised the Prussian soldiers, they were involved in their Christmas celebrations, including trimming the tree.

This idea caught on in the new nation, and rapidly spread around the rest of the world.

Along with the trees, many homes place wreaths on their front doors. In ancient Rome, the wreath was a sign of victory and celebration.

The Christmas wreath, with the passage of time, became the symbol of the strength of life overcoming the forces of winter.

Holly is used for wreaths because the pointed leaves resemble the thorny crown worn by Christ during His crucifixion. The red berries are representative of his blood.

One of the most popular of Christmas traditions is mistletoe. We all know anyone standing under the mistletoe will get a kiss.

But why is mistletoe so revered? According to Druid belief, mistletoe came from heaven, brought to Earth by the missel thrush. It is believed someone saw a thrush carrying a white berry from the plant in its claw hence the name mistletoe.

It was often referred to as the "golden bough" in Greek mythology and was said to be a charm against evil.

The plant was also sacred to the Norse goddess, Frigga, wife of Odin, the All Father.

Norse legend states Frigga, mother of Balder, god of light and sun, asked all plants to protect her son with the exception of mistletoe, a plant she considered unimportant.

The Norse gods celebrated at their raucous parties by throwing deadly weapons at Balder, causing him no harm. However, Loki, the Norse god of mischief, fashioned a dart out of the mistletoe, giving it to Hoder, a blind god, who struck Balder with it, thereby killing him.

After three days of suffering, Balder died from his wounds, but was brought back to life, legend states, by his mother's love. His rebirth brought light back to he winter solstice, and Frigga's tears became the berries on the mistletoe plant, representing a mother's love being stronger than death itself.

When Balder returned from the land of the dead, the legend goes, Frigga kissed all who passed beneath the mistletoe plant, thereby creating today's tradition.

However, the Druids also believed mistletoe has healing properties as well. They though it contained a sacred spirit because it could only be found on their sacred oak trees.

The Druids believed the plant could protect cattle from disease, could cure ulcers, was good for fertility, fought poisons and could cure epilepsy.

Native Americans chewed mistletoe to cure toothaches, and, in 1952, medical research found the plant contains a drug that can reduce blood pressure.

Druid priests would bless the plant, giving it to others. Those who received the gift were expected to give the priests something in return, as an exchange of good faith.

And what would Christmas be without caroling? Those joyous songs proclaiming the birth of Christ, along with the wassailing and sharing the gladness with those who sing them.

But caroling wasn't always done by song. The word carol comes from the Greek choraulein and was a dance accompanied by flute music.

Sailors and merchants who traveled to Greece and witnessed these celebrations took it back to their homelands. In France the flute was replaced by songs and was held at many occasions during the year.

Again, time passed and by the 1600, caroling simply became songs sang only at Christmas.

The majority of carols sang today were written in the 1700 and 1800s, with most being religious in nature.

Christmas cards, another popular tradition, were first designed by John Calcott Horsley, an English illustrator. The first card was done in 1843, showing a family celebrating Christmas at their home.

By 1860, the giving of cards had become a Christmas tradition in Great Britain.

However, crossing the big pond took a while for the Christmas card. The first ones in America were done in 1875 by Louis Prang, a German-born printer.

The midwinter celebration, whether it is the pagan festival or done in honor of the birth of Christ, has always been connected with the Birth of the Unconquered Sun (Son) and new life, or rebirth, whether it be the harvest of a coming season or everlasting life in the kingdom of heaven.