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Issue Date: December 18, 2005
Holidays
Don't Know Much About Christmas
Many of our favorite holiday symbols are rooted in myths.
By Kenneth C. Davis
If you think Scrooge and the Grinch are grumpy come Christmastime, consider the Puritans: These founding fathers banned Christmas! From 1659 to 1681, the devout Puritans of Massachusetts outlawed Christmas celebrations in Boston in part because they felt the holiday was rooted in, and therefore tainted by, pagan customs.
Evergreens are the ancient symbols of life.
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And they were right: Much of what we celebrate about Christmas -- from decorated trees to yule logs and mistletoe -- does come from pagan myths and customs. These folk practices were wrapped around the nativity story and became the colorful array of Christmas customs observed today. Here are the stories behind some of our favorite holiday symbols:
Christmas trees: The pagans get credit for using evergreens, the ancient symbols of life -- trees that remained alive in the dead of winter. The tradition of decorating trees appeared in medieval Germany, where part of the celebration of the Feast of Adam and Eve on Dec. 24 featured a Paradise Tree -- an evergreen decorated with apples.
Santa Claus: The moniker was Americanized from Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for St. Nicholas, a popular saint who, legend says, gave gold dowries to three girls so they could get married. But the predecessor to Santa Claus is based on the Norse god Odin, who rode through the winter skies on his eight-legged horse and brought gifts to the needy. Odin became Father Christmas, and the eight-legged horse transformed into eight reindeer.
Mistletoe: The kissing tradition stems from Celtic and Norse myths. Considered sacred by the Celtic Druids, evergreen mistletoe was a healing plant so holy that enemies would lay down their arms if they met beneath it. Mistletoe emerged as a token of peace and, thanks to Norse myths, eventually romance.
Wreaths: Evergreen wreaths have long been used as symbols of victory. Athletes in ancient Greece received laurel wreaths; in Roman times, evergreen wreaths were hung as symbols of celebration. Holly later was used because its green leaves symbolize life and its red berries symbolize Jesus' blood.
Understanding the roots of Christmas doesn't change the meaning of the holiday. Whether you say "Joyeux Noel," "God Yul" or "Buon Natale," the season is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the hope for peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.
Contributing Editor Ken Davis' latest book is "Don't Know Much About Mythology: Everything You Need to Know About the World's Greatest Stories in Human History but Never Learned" (Harper Collins, $26.95).
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