St. Nicholas

The strongest character to have influenced the shaping of today’s Santa was St. Nicholas. Legend has St. Nicholas born approximately 270 years after Christ, on the shores of the Mediterranean in Lycia, today in western Turkey. According to legend, his parents were wealthy Greek Christians. When Nicholas was still a very young man, he was consecrated archbishop of Myra (now Kale).

There are numerous stories that tell of his good, charitable life and miracle-working. One popular legend tells of how he tossed a small bag of gold down the chimney belonging to a family needing help. The gold landed in a stocking that was hung up to dry. Nicholas did not want his giving deeds known, and he was known to deliver his gifts at night until he was discovered. He was believed to have died in Myra on December 6, about AD 343. The anniversary of his death became a day to exchange gifts.

From the thirteenth century until the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, St. Nicholas was the foremost saint in Christendom. Throughout Europe, several thousand churches were dedicated to him. St. Nicholas became the patron of little children, as well as of maidens and students, merchants and others.

By the Middle Ages, St. Nicholas was linked with Christmas. Today, it is thought that the giving of gifts to children in his name originated in France, where nuns in the thirteenth century began leaving presents at the homes of the poor on the eve of his saint's day, December 6th. The custom spread across Europe as street parades were led by someone representing St. Nicholas mounted on a white horse.

During the Reformation, Martin Luther and other reformers tried zealously to stop the worship of saints and to erase the popular St. Nicholas from people's minds. For a time, the Feast of Saint Nicholas was abolished in some European countries. In Germany, the saint who had put nuts and apples in the shoes of children became disguised in many Protestant homes as the Christchild. Both saint and Christchild were described as wanderers, generally said to travel afoot, by chariot or horseback, inspecting the deeds of mankind in general and children in particular, making sure that there was good behavior before apples, nuts, and sweets were scattered.

German pre-Santa figures include: Knecht Ruprecht, Hans Trapp, Krampus, Klaubauf, Schwarze Peter, Pelznickel and finally Weihnachtsmann, who carried a Christmas tree and had a long, white beard. The Old English Father Christmas, was known in medieval mummers' plays as a pagan spirit more concerned with wassail, mistletoe, and the yule-log than with gifts for children.

Early Origins of Santa Claus

Known throughout the world by different names, the Santa Claus character that we know today has been shaped over many centuries. In fact, it was not until the late nineteenth century that Santa resembled today’s depiction of the jolly old elf. The earliest influences on the shaping of Santa stem back to several legends and figures in ancient Europe. Thousands of years before the time of Christ, Odin pranced through the Scandinavian midwinter skies on his horse Sleipnir bringing tidings of great joy, sometimes rewards, and oftentimes punishment to expectant Viking children. His son Thor was known to drive a chariot pulled across the skies by two goats. Dressed in his blood-red winter attire, Thor fought off the gods of the ice and snow, conquering the deep chill of winter with his hot lightning bolts.

Nativity Scenes and Pageants

Commemorating the location of the Savior’s birth began, perhaps when Roman Emperor Constantine commissioned the building of the Church of the Nativity on the spot in Bethlehem assumed to be the birthplace. St. Francis of Assisi first introduced the crèche, or wooden nativity scene, at the Christmas service of 1223. He has also been credited with starting the tradition of the living nativity near the Italian village of Greccio in the mid-1200’s.

The tradition of setting up a nativity scene or crèche in the home began with the early Pennsylvania German settlers. A “putz” (German for decoration), or Christmas tree yard, was set up under or near the tree. It consisted of a stable scene, and sometimes a Noah’s Ark scene. Some putz creations became grand and intricate displays, with clumps of moss used for grass and actual streams, ponds and waterfalls, running through countryside and village scenes.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, nativity plays called actos were performed in liturgical style honoring the birth of the Christ child and the adoration of Him by the Magi (the Three Wise Men or Kings). Often the Star of Bethlehem hovered over these dramatic re-enact-ments. One of the first nativity plays was written in Spanish called El Aucto de Los Reyes Magos written around 1150 A.D. It was presented in the Cathedral of Toledo in Spain and was probably performed there many times at Christmastide. Mostly, the characters were choir boys in minimal costume and stage "sets" were dominated by the radiant Star of Bethlehem.

In Spain, Mexico and throughout much of the American Southwest, the Las Posadas procession is practiced. It is a type of nativity pageant that involves many participants, who follow Mary and Joseph down city streets. The ensemble joins in singing songs relating to the search for a room for the birth of Christ.

The world’s most famous religious pageant, the Passion Play,was staged in Oberammergau, Germany in 1634, and has been performed every ten years since. Throughout the Christian world, plays and pageants of the nativity story have long been a favorite holiday production in churches and schools.

The Star of Bethlehem

The famous star that guided the Wise Men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem was in itself a representation of the Savior, who is called in biblical prophecy “the Star out of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17), referring to the Savior’s role and lineage.

The Star of Bethlehem is spoken of in the scriptures as being a
new star that appeared to herald the holy advent of Christ’s birth (see
Scriptural Account of the Birth of Jesus Christ). Astronomers have tried to determine the possible sources of this new star. From Chinese astronomical records, three comets have been identified that would have been visible in both the Far and Middle East in the years 6, 5 and 4 BC (see Date of Christ’s Birth). A comet can have the appearance of a star, and would give the feel of moving across the sky over a period of time. Although positive scientific identification has not been possible, one of these comets could have been the star that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem.

Another theory comes from modern astrologers who point to the conjunction in the eastern sky of Jupiter with the bright star known as Regulus (which in Latin means “the King’s star), which would have shown the brightest between the dates of February 17 and May 8, 2 B.C. Five weeks later, on June 17th, an almost unheard of celestial event occurred when Jupiter then aligned with Venus. According to American astronomer Roger Sinnott, at around 9 p.m. that night the two planets would have appeared to kiss each other, fusing into a brilliant star in the western sky, as if to point the direction to Bethlehem.

A favorite Christmas symbol and decoration, stars adorn the tops as well as the branches of Christmas trees, shine in windows and on roof tops, and are represented in the millions of twinkling lights on houses and trees everywhere at Christmas time.

The Wise Men or Three Kings

The Wise Men are also known as the Three Kings or Magi. “Magi” is plural for “magus”, meaning great or illustrious. The Bible does not say whether these wise men were actually kings, or how many wise men came to visit the baby Jesus, although tradition holds that there were three because the Bible mentions three types of gifts: gold frankincense and myrrh. Eastern traditions favor twelve. They were probably priestly astrologers who came from Persia or southern Arabia. Prophecies of these men can be found in Psalms 72:10 and in Isaiah 60:6.

The Wise Men, or Three Kings, were identified by name by St. Bede in 735 AD: Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar. These names are most likely fictional, but give a personalization to the men we know little about. The legend of these men is that, after returning home, they sold their possessions and went out to teach the gospel. The Apostle Thomas was to have baptized them 40 years later in India and ordained them as priests and bishops. After being persecuted, they were martyred.

The date of January 6th is celebrated in many countries as the Feast of Epiphany or the “Adoration of the Magi”, the day when the Three Kings were to have visited the baby Jesus.

The Bible clearly states that the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus was not on the night of his birth, unlike the shepherd’s visit to the manger, but occurred later when Jesus was staying in a house in Bethlehem.

The three gifts of the wise men had prophetic meaning: gold, the gift for a king; incense, the gift for a priest; and myrrh, a burial ointment as a gift for one who would die. Today, in some countries, it is the Three Kings that come to deliver gifts on Christmas. In Austria, children dress up as kings, holding a large star, and go door to door for money or treats.

The Nativity Stable

The setting of the humble birthplace of the one who would be known as the King, the Messiah, the Redeemer and Savior of the World offers much insight into the role and life of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the paradox of greatness and lowliness combined is nowhere better displayed than in the stable of the Lord’s nativity.

The lowly shelter, whether a barn or a cave, was the chosen location for many reasons. Since “there was no room for them in the inn”, or perhaps within the hearts of many men, the resting and feeding place for animals became the holy birthplace. Such an atmosphere has especially strong meaning, as it would be the grown Savior who would later offer men to come unto him and get rest, and to partake of his spiritual nourishments and never hunger nor thirst again.

The manger, which Mary laid her baby in, is similarly meaningful. The word manger, comes from French, which means “to eat”. He who was known as the “Bread of Life”, born in a feeding stall, invited all men to eat.

The animals that might have been the most likely to be in residence at the stable, and often represented in nativity crèches and pageants, were the lamb, the ox, and the donkey. Each of these animals bear significance into the representations of the Savior himself.

The lamb represented the Lamb of God - the first born who would be sacrificed - as well as the Lord’s gentle, meek and mild character. The lamb was there as one of the first to follow the Good Shepherd.

The ox, or oxen, often used to make a peace offering on holy altars, also have representation of the Lord’s sacrifice. On the backs of twelve of these animals have rested baptismal fonts in early biblical and in modern times. The strength of the ox is a symbol of the strength and power of the Lord and his gospel.

The donkey was honored to be the chosen animal to carry on its back the Savior of the World at two important moments. His first ride on a donkey occurred within his mother Mary’s belly as she rode to Bethlehem where she would give divine birth. The second was his triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, as he prepared for the final moments of his ministry, atonement and death.

The Shepherds and the Nativity

Some have wondered why a group of humble shepherds “watching their flocks by night” would have been chosen to receive the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth and be honored to act as the first witnesses to the holy nativity. It is suggested that these men could have been Levitical priests who had the assignment of watching over the sheep that were to be used for temple sacrifices. Being sons of Levi, such priests receive by right the ministering of angels (see Numbers 8:19 and Doctrine and Covenants 13:1). The Bible does not tell us how many shepherds heard the announcement or came to the stable, but as witnesses, there would need to have been at least two.

The role of the shepherds and the sheep in the nativity are strong symbols of the Savior, who is known as both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God.

Christmas Angels

Angels, heavenly messengers proclaiming joy, played a significant role in the story of the nativity - from the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary, to the host of angels singing to the shepherds, to the angel warning Joseph to take Mary and the baby to Egypt, escaping Herod’s wrath. The Book of Mormon also tells of an angel’s visit to Nephi, showing him a vision of the Savior’s birth and ministry 600 years before it occurred (see Scriptural Accounts of the Birth of Jesus Christ).

The role of an angel is to be a messenger from heaven. Just as angels proclaimed His birth, Christ himself proclaimed the everlasting gospel and filled the role as “messenger of the covenant”. (See Malachi 3:1 and 3 Nephi 24:1).

Angels continue to be important figures in the celebration of Christmas. Many Christmas tree tops are adorned with angels, and many favorite Christmas carols celebrate the role of the angels, including: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Joy to the World.

The Date of Christ's Birth

The actual date of Christ's birth is not found in any historical records. Early Christians appear not to have celebrated Christ’s birthday, at least not publicly, due to their being persecuted by the Romans and others. There is no New Testament record of Christmas celebrations, and no date is given for the Nativity. Although the birth of Jesus Christ is observed on December 25th each year, it is generally recognized as not being the actual date of His birth. Since it is unlikely that flocks of sheep would be roaming the hills at night in winter, many have guessed that the birth actually occurred in the spring or summer. In the LDS scripture Doctrine and Covenants, Section 20:1, it is revealed that the actual date of Christ’s birth was April 6th, although no year is given.

Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated many different times during the year. Early Christians often celebrated the Nativity in September, which was during the Jewish Feast of the Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah). In 320 AD, Pope Julius I introduced the 25th of December as the immovable day to celebrate Christ’s birthday, to replace pagan celebrations with the Christian one. The date was chosen to coincide with the pagan Roman celebrations honoring Saturnus (the harvest god) and Mithras (the god of light), to celebrate the return of the sun, announcing that winter is not forever, that life continues, and inviting all to stay in good spirit. The Roman celebrations came on or just after the winter solstice, between December 20th and 22nd, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

Chinese astronomical records of comets and novae have assisted modern astronomers to identify three comets that would have been visible in both the Far and Middle East in 6, 5 and 4 BC. Modern astrologers point to the conjunction of Jupiter with the star Regulus and with Venus in 2 B.C. One of these new astral markers could have been the star that led the Wise Men to Bethlehem. (See Star of Bethlehem).

In the 6th Century, Roman astronomer Dionysus Exeguus reformed the calendar to pivot around the Birth of Christ. However, his calculations, based on the year of the founding of Rome, were off by a few years. It is therefore supposed that Jesus was born on April 6, between 6-2 BC.

The Birth of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures

Old Testament Prophecies
(Isaiah 7:14, 9:6)
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning God with us). For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(Micah 5:2)
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Book of Mormon Prophecies
(1 Nephi 10:4)
Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

(1 Nephi 11:13-21)
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!

(Mosiah 3:5-8)
For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases. And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

(Alma 7:7-10)
For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people. Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.

But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

(Helaman 14:1-8)
And now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written. And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven. And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

Mary and the Angel Gabriel
(Luke 1:26-38)
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Joseph and Mary
(Matthew 1:18-25)
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The Birth in Bethlehem
(Luke 2:1-20)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.


The Visit of the Wise Men
(Matthew 2:1-12)
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The Birth Announced in America
(3 Nephi 1:11-21)
And it came to pass that he [Nephi] went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers. And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came. And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth. For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given. And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets. And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

Other Holidays at Christmas Time

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, lasts for eight days, beginning on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev (November-December). Because the Hebrew calendar does not correspond to our modern day Gregorian calendar, the days when Hanukkah are celebrated vary every year, usually sometime near Christmas. It is a celebration of the victory of Judah in a battle with Syria, over 2,100 years ago, and the subsequent miracle of the temple menorah oil lamp which burned for eight days on one day’s supply of oil. Each night of Hanukkah, the menorah candles are lit, gifts are given, and a game is played with the wooden dreidel top.

Ramadan, the month of fasting and celebration, is celebrated by the Muslims of the world, marking the month the Prophet Mohammed received his revelations for their holy book, the Koran. Ramadan, usually near Christmas time, is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which varies from the Gregorian calendar. Muslims fast during the daylight hours, and celebrate at the setting of the sun, sharing special desserts and treats. The days are spent in prayer and reflection. At the end of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr, the festival of the breaking of the fast.

Kwaanza, a cultural African heritage festival, was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana “Ron” Karenga, a college professor and African-American leader. Honoring the festivals of many African groups of people and celebrating the harvest, Kwaanza is gaining popularity among people of African-American heritage. The word kwaanza is Swahili meaning “the first fruits of the harvest”.

Divali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, is celebrated near Christmas time in India. Clay lamps filled with oil are put up everywhere – along the roof, in the windows, and along the roads. These lights are to help guide Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of good fortune, back to the earth. Wreaths are hung on front doors, and good luck designs are drawn. Gifts are exchanged, special sweets are eaten, and there are firework displays.

Boxing Day

In Britain and other countries, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. Also known as St. Stephen’s Day, honoring the first Christian martyr, Boxing Day has been observed as the day to give money to the poor and give gifts of appreciation to servants. The expression came from the alms-boxes that were placed in churches during the season and then distributed to the needy the day after Christmas. Also, servants present’s were usually presented in boxes.

In Sweden, this day is recognized as Another Day Christmas, an official holiday designated as an additional day for merry-making.

Origins of The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas came from various influences. In the 6th century, the Second Council of Tours proclaimed the sanctity of the twelve-day period from Christmas to Epiphany, the January 6th feast day commemorating the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. Later, in 1752, 12 days were dropped from the year when the switch occurred from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The December 25th date was effectively moved 12 days backwards. Some Christian church sects, called Eastern Orthodox, still celebrate Christmas on January 6th, which was previously December 25th on the Julian calendar.

Another possible connection to the number of days can be made to the twelve apostles of the Savior during his earthly ministry. The oldest reference to a twelve-day winter celebration goes back to the Mesopotamians, to help their god Marduk tame the monsters of chaos for one more year. These twelve days also correspond with the amount of days that the return of the sun was celebrated during Saturnalia by the ancient and Roman pagans.

The evening of the final day, or Epiphany, became known in Europe as Twelfth Night. The popular Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was inspired by the Twelfth Night celebrations that occurred in England. It was a big night for dancing, feasting and drinking: there were usually a lot of “lords leaping” and “ladies dancing”, while the dining tables were laden with partridges, ducks and geese. Those who found a bean inside a holiday dessert called the twelfth cake, a large pie-like pastry, were chosen to be the king and queen of the night’s festivities.

"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree."
Second day: two turtle doves
Third day: three french hens
Fourth day: four calling birds
Fifth day: five golden rings
Sixth day: six geese-a-laying
Seventh day: seven swans-a-swimming
Eighth day: eight maids-a-milking
Ninth day: nine ladies dancing
Tenth day: ten lords-a-leaping
Eleventh day: eleven pipers piping
Twelfth day: twelve drummers drumming

Additionally, the "Twelve Days of Christmas" song is claimed to have religious background and meaning. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. It is claimed that this carol was written as a catechism song for young Catholics. The lyrics were to have two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the Catholic faith. Each element in the carol was to be a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. The alleged Catholic representations were as follows:

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ on the cross.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens symbolized the three members of the Godhead, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; or alternately stood for faith, hope and charity.
4. The four calling (or colly) birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch, Torah or the Law.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, and Mercy (see Romans 12:6-8).
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control (See Galatians 5:22-23).
10. The ten lords a-leaping represented the ten commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed, namely: belief in the Father, belief in the Son, the virgin birth, the atonement, Christ's ministry after death, his ascension to heaven, his role as Judge, belief in the Holy Ghost, belief in the church, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection, and eternal life.

Christmas in America

The Christmas Americans celebrate today is largely a late nineteenth century creation, and is a blend of Old World history and traditions melded and altered by an emerging American culture. Although many of the traditions of today’s American Christmas originated in Germany and England, the holiday has been influenced by cultures around the world. Only a century ago, New Year’s Day was a more important day than Christmas for many Americans.

Christmas in America was first observed in the colonies by a ragged band of Englishmen huddled together in Jamestown in 1607. Their leader, Captain John Smith, was away, bartering for food with the local native Americans. There was less than 40 of them and little food with which to rejoice, but they still observed Christmas Day with an Anglican worship service. The majority of the early settlers in Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas were Anglicans of English descent. Their Christmas celebrations emphasized feasting, drinking, dancing, card playing, horse racing, cock fighting and other games, rather than worship. The old English Christmas customs they brought along with them included Christmas carols, Yule logs, kissing under the mistletoe, and decking homes with greenery.

The Puritans of New England considered the day an abomination. They had a deep-seated abhorrence of the Church of England's relics of popery, including Christ-mass. As late as 1886, the American Methodist newspaper The Christian Advocate described Christmas as a day Aon which more sin and sacrilege and pagan foolishness is committed than on any other day of the year. The Reformers said Christmas was a human invention since the date of December 25th had been assigned by the Roman Church in the 4th century, and that any celebration of the Savior's birth was without Biblical sanction.

However, celebrating Christmas grew to become popular tradition over the years, and seemed to develop more firmly as a revered holiday as America developed into a strong nation.

In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the U.S. to declare Christmas a legal holiday, and in 1907, Oklahoma became the last of the continental states to do so. During the years between these two state holiday declarations, Christmas in America had transformed from a minor religious day celebrated only by some into the universally observed and most joyous holiday celebration in America today.

Christmas: The Name of the Holiday

The word Christmas means “Mass of Christ”, shortened to “Christ-Mass”. An even shorter form is Xmas – first used in Europe in the 1500’s – is derived from the Greek alphabet, in which X is the first letter of Christ’s name: Xristos, therefore “X-mass”. The French word for Christmas, Noel, means “new birth”. The word Yule comes from Old Norse hweol meaning “wheel”, describing the sun as a wheel of fire, which was celebrated at the winter solstice. From hweolor-tid, meaning the "turning time of the sun", came the modern Scandinavian word Juletid, and the English Yuletide. In many languages, the word for nativity is used for the holiday, such as “Navidad” in Spanish, “Nadal” in Portuguese, or “Natale” in Italian.