Some aspects go back to the Druids as early as 3,000 years ago. They decorated trees around the winter solstice and performed many rituals we might recognize. The Roman Saturnalia coincides with the time of year. That ancient people celebrated successful harvests with a week-long celebration. And, of course, many aspects of Christmas and Hanukkah revolve around the Christian and Jewish religions. Many of the modern customs of the season derive those that grew up in England and Germany in the early to mid-19th century.

But whatever the historical origin of this or that part of the Christmas holiday, it is celebrated in hundreds of countries around the world in similar ways. It is one time of the year when everyone is reminded of the many joyous aspects of life. It is a time for exchanging gifts as a token of affection, for parties to enjoy good friends and family. It is a renewal of good will.

All those are given concrete form by the many ways that people around the world enjoy the holiday.

Some of those involve decorating the home or office inside or out. Stringing lights lend a festive air to objects and the buildings that house them. A tree brings nature indoors, while ornaments give it an artistic touch that only humans can provide. Christmas cards are exchanged to remind others that we’re thinking of them and wish them well.

At the same time, socializing rises. That often takes the form of a carefully prepared meal with delightful drinks and delicious desserts. Those parties often extend into New Years because, after all, those ancient traditions continue to operate in some ways in modern times. Even when not thought about, the ways of the past continue to influence the present.

Giving gifts is a big part of the holiday, and for good reason. While it may be the thought that counts, thoughts are made clearer when they’re given expression in reality. A thoughtful gift says you know what another wants. That’s a sign of caring. It’s an act by one person to give up a material value in exchange for another that will bring joy to both. And, after all, joy is non-material even when prompted by an object.

For, everyone will acknowledge that while gifts are delightful, the smile on the face of someone you like is the biggest gift of all. That’s still Christmas, even in the modern world.

What are the 12 Days of Christmas?

First, the 12 days of Christmas stand for the twelve days leading up to the Epiphany. In most cultures, this begins on December 26 and goes until January 6. The western church celebrates this time as the time it took for the magi to arrive to visit the Christ child. Some cultures call January 6 Three Kings Day, and some celebrate that date as their gift-giving day of the holiday season. The gifts symbolize the gifts that the kings brought to Jesus, of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Other cultures might traditionally give a gift on each of the 12 days of Christmas, exactly like the the song goes. Other cultures have modified the 12 days of Christmas into a pagan celebration that celebrates the new year and the driving the evil spirits out of their lives.

Some historians have found evidence to suggest that each of the gifts given during The 12 Days of Christmas are symbols that the Catholic Church created to help teach catechism to Catholic children. This theory dates all the way back to the 16th century, during the religious wars in England. Of the twelve gifts, each different one represents a fundamental point of the Catholic faith. For example, the true love cited in the songs’ lyrics refers to God, and the me who receives the gifts symbolizes every baptized believer of the Catholicism. Each one of the gifts represents an important aspect of catechism. The partridge in a pear tree stands for Jesus Christ. Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Three French hens are for the virtues of faith, hope and love.

The song continues on with symbols for each day, until you get to the twelve drummers drumming, which refer to the twelve points of the Apostles Creed. Isn’t it interesting that this catchy little children’s song called The 12 Days of Christmas can carry so much educational meaning for the Christian church?

Remember, the birth of Jesus Christ is what Christmas is all about for believers of the Christian faith worldwide!

But, there are a number of classics such as The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Nester, The Long Eared Donkey and A Christmas Carol (The 1951 Alastair Sim version…the other versions are fine, but Sim’s version is a masterpiece) are among the top productions that seem to get better with age. I always enjoyed Miracle on 34th Street. If there was one Christmas film that was the best of them all, it would have to be Frank Capra’s masterpiece, It’s a Wonderful Life.

A Failed Start and a Huge Rebirth

This may come as a shock to many of the film’s biggest fans, but the film was originally released in JULY! You see, It’s a Wonderful Life was NOT originally conceived as a Christmas film. The ending just happened to have a yuletide theme, but the remainder of the film centers on an undefined time of the year. (Actually, it spans several months of the year) When the film first came out, it played in theaters without much fanfare. Critics trashed the film basically calling it a depressing venture that ended in a hugely sappy manner. This made the film a box office failure and a seeming low point in Frank Capra’s directorial career. Then, decades later, magic happened!

Noting that the end of the film took place during the holiday season, TV syndication services repackaged the film as a Christmas special. With this new holiday themed advertising campaign, the film finally started to reach an audience. And the audience loved it! In fact, the audience for the film became so huge that it has taken its place as the number one most popular Yuletide film in cinema history.

Reasons for Success

Part of the reason for the film’s success is the fact that the notion that no small good deed goes unnoticed without a larger effect, resonated with audiences. This is a brilliant morality lesson that is timeless and this timelessness has allowed It’s A Wonderful Life to find new fans every year. In fact, it will probably continue to do so for many more years to come. This is a success and adulation the film truly deserves as it is an all time classic. For many families, the Christmas season just doesn’t feel like Christmas until they have watched It’s a Wonderful Life together.

How the History of Christmas Began

Christmas begins with the Catholic Church recognizing and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Eventually the holiday of Christmas was celebrated by other Christian religions as well, and other stories and folklore came into play with the history of Christmas and they created the traditions that go along with it. As each country and culture celebrated Christmas, they also brought with them many different traditions and rituals that were unique to their own cultures. All of these aspects of the history of Christmas have come together in a sort of melting pot that makes up our Christmas holiday season of today.

The History of Christmas in the United States

The United States was one of the last places to adopt the Christmas holidays. This country has done so much in a short period of time to create a rich history of the holiday within its boundaries. American Sunday schools began to hold Christmas parties in the first half of the nineteenth century. Then along came the rituals of Christmas trees, gift giving and Santa Clause were very much a part of the Christmas culture by the late 1800’s. In 1836, Alabama was the first state in the country to make Christmas a legal holiday. Washington D.C. followed suit in 1870, and by 1893 every state and territory had done the same. December 25th will forever be known as Christmas Day.

Some now complain that Christmas has become such a highly retail and commercialized holiday, that it has stripped some of the original meaning of the history of Christmas away. Christians still realize this day as the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Churches see a rise in attendance during the Christmas holiday season. Many families place crèches and nativity scenes in their home to commemorate the first Christmas. For believers in the Christian faith, the history of Christmas signifies one of the holiest times of the year, when a Messiah was born to bring salvation to the world.