Origins Of Christmas Traditions | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Origins of Christmas Traditions

Do you know where some of the most iconic symbols of Christmas came from?

120
Origins of Christmas Traditions

In This Article:

Christmas, as we know it, is deeply rooted in Christian traditions. It is Christmas, after all. But, celebrations during late December have been around since before Christianity. Many of the traditions we know have origins in pagan religions and rituals, and have been modified as different cultures and religions evolve.

Christmas

The holiday actually evolved from the Roman celebration of their god of agriculture, Saturn. This celebration usually lasted during the winter solstice, around the time modern-day Christmas festivities are celebrated. During Saturnalia, as the holiday was called, there was a public banquet, and small gifts were given to young children.

During this time, schools were not open, so the kids could partake in the celebration. The courts were also closed, meaning there was no sentencing for criminals.

The point of this holiday, other than worshiping Saturn, was to celebrate happiness and merriment. Because of this, it was illegal to declare war during Saturnalia. On the other hand, a darker tradition involved gladiator battles; they were put on so that the loser of the battle could serve as a sacrifice to Saturn. (Source, Source)

Hanging Stockings 

The practice of hanging stockings comes from the times of St. Nicolas, who was a bishop in Lycia in the 4th century. The idea of hanging stockings, however, came from a Scandinavian tradition of children filling their shoes up with carrots or straw and leaving them outside for Odin's horse, Sleipnir. When the horse ate their offerings, Odin left little trinkets behind for the children. (Source)

Wreaths

Since before the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, wreaths have been used to symbolize power and strength. Kings and emperors wore small wreaths on their head as a status symbol, as it was a representation of their god Apollo. Harvest wreaths, like the ones we use for decorations today, were used in harvest rituals.

The early Europeans used evergreen wreaths to represent strength and immortality, as the evergreen tree was able to withstand rough winters. (Source)

Christmas Trees

Like evergreen wreaths, evergreen trees were used by pre-Christian peoples as a symbol for strength and immortality. The tradition of worshiping evergreen trees was present in ancient Chinese, Hebrew, and Egyptian culture. In early Christian tradition, evergreen trees were used to keep away the devil and provide a home to any birds that were still around during the winter season. (Source)

Mistletoe

Although it is viewed as a romantic plant, mistletoe is actually a parasite. It feeds off of trees when perched on its branches, draining it of nutrients. However, the fascination with mistletoe predates Christianity.

In many cultures, it was thought to carry "male essence," which represented romance and fertility. Perhaps this is why people now use it as an excuse to kiss others underneath it. (Source)

Santa Claus

We all know that St. Nicolas is one of the early representations of Santa Claus.

However, there are a few other figures that have influenced our version of Santa. One example is Sinterklaas, a Dutch legend that is pretty much identical to our modern Christmas figure. He wore red and white, new if children were "naughty or nice," and even had little elves called Zwarte Piet. These elves assisted Sinterklaas by punishing bed children with willow canes. Odin, a pagan god, is also credited with influencing modern Santa Claus.

The myth states that he led the other gods on hunting parties around the same time as our Christmas, and his horse had eight legs like Santa has eight reindeer. (Source)

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

962
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

15919
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3297
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments