Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

Who Invented Santa Claus?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around 280 A.D.. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors.

t. Nicholas first entered American popular culture in the late 18th century in New York, when Dutch families gathered to honor the anniversary of the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas” for short. “Santa Claus” draws his name from this abbreviation.

Christmas Facts

• Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are about 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they  are sold.

• In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.

• When Christmas was cancelled: From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings.

• Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.

How Did Christmas Trees Start?

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

Christmas Traditions Worldwide

Finland: ‘Hyvää Joulua!’

Many Finns visit the sauna on Christmas Eve. Families gather and listen to the national “Peace of Christmas” radio broadcast. It is customary to visit the gravesites of departed family members.

Mexico: ‘Feliz Navidad!’

In 1828, the American minister to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, brought a red-and-green plant from Mexico to America. As its coloring seemed perfect for the new holiday, the plants, which were called Poinsettias after Poinsett, began appearing in greenhouses as early as 1830. In 1870, New york stores began to sell them at Christmas. 

 Some of our favorite Christmas movies

Chocolate and Peppermint

 Roast Turkey and Gravy

One of the secrets to a moist, delicious, and beautiful turkey is spreading butter under the skin, says Chef John. You can season the butter any way you want; the possibilities are endless.

Chocolate and Peppermint

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened 1 stick equals 1/2 cup)

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1/4 tsp natural peppermint extract

• 1 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (or whole-wheat pastry)

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/4 tsp baking powder

• 1 candy cane (finely crushed)

• 1/3 cup dark, bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

The history of Christmas presents

Like many popular Christmas traditions, people have been exchanging gifts for a very long time. Even though trends and tastes in gifts may change, the gesture of acquiring, preparing, and bestowing something of value to friends and family is something that has been honoured by people all over the world in celebration of the festive period for thousands of years.

These presents are also left in different places! In most of Europe, the presents are left in shoes or boots put out by the children. In Italy, the UK and the USA presents are left in stockings, often left hanging by a fire place. In many countries, presents for friends and family may be left under the Christmas tree. In the UK, they are often opened on Christmas day morning with all the family together

Presents are opened on different days over the world as well. The earliest presents are opened is on St. Nicholas’ Eve on December 5th when children in Th Netherlands of ten receive their presents. On St. Nicholas’ Day (6th December) children in Belgium, Germany, Czechia and some other European countries open some of their presents.

3 Things You May Not Know About “Jingle Bells”

 1. J.P. Morgan’s uncle wrote “Jingle Bells.”

       

Born in 1822, songwriter James Lord Pierpont composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the holiday standard. His older sister, Juliet, married millionaire Junius Spencer Morgan, and their oldest child, John Pierpont Morgan, followed his father into the banking business and became one of the most powerful financiers of the Gilded Age.

2. “Jingle Bells” was not intended to be a Christmas song.

             

Although “Jingle Bells” is now a Yuletide staple, there is no mention of Christmas or any other holiday in the song. Some historical accounts report that the tune was first performed for a Thanksgiving service at the church of either Pierpont’s father or brother, but the lyrics might have been too risqué for an ecclesiastical audience. Given the songwriter’s rebellious nature, it shouldn’t be surprising that “Jingle Bells” has a bit of a rebel-without-a-cause attitude. The less-known verses of the song describe picking up girls, drag-racing on snow and a high-speed crash. The lyrics “go it while you’re young” in the final verse of the secular standard is hardly about a holy or silent night.

Some beautiful Christmas poems

Little Tree by e.e. cummings

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy…