Christmases of times past have always fascinated me. This is likely due to the historian in me, but even as a child I’ve wanted to know more about the traditions that have shaped Christmas as we now know it. As I’ve dug deeper, I’ve realized that the Christmas we know today is probably the shallowest version of the holiday that there’s ever been. I now believe that it’s time to go back to some of these traditions that made Christmas what it is today; not only would it be more fun, but it would mean more to us as well.
It’s commonly known that holidays have been held around the end of December for centuries—pagan holidays such as Saturnalia and Yule. The time of year wasn’t coincidental, though; it was usually chosen to cheer spirits. Imagine a time without social media or even a mail system, when traveling even a few miles was a long, dangerous journey. When the weather turned cold and wintery, people were largely confined to their homes, and it would seem as though the world was dying as the days grew shorter and the plants faded. To those not knowing when summer would return, bringing sun and food, the long months of winter could be frightening. Thus, a celebration was the best way to raise spirits. These celebrations were revels, but we also see a trend of darkness and spiritualism throughout all these holidays, reaching even into the Victorian era, when it was still common to tell ghost stories on Christmas Eve. The fear that winter brought was never quite banished in these celebrations.
It doesn’t seem surprising, then, that the general date of these winter holidays was kept when the early Church fathers were deciding on a time to hold the Mass to celebrate the birth of Christ. December 25th was eventually chosen, although prior to modern calendar changes, January 6th was the common date of Christmas for many years. With the holiday being held on the 25th, however, January 6th became Epiphany, or the end of the twelve days of Christmas. One big celebration ran throughout the twelve days of Christmas, with the revels culminating on Twelfth Night, when, as is mimicked in William Shakespeare’s play of the same name, all is turned upside-down: servants would dress as their masters and vice versa, and nearly all forms of boisterous partying were encouraged.
Glancing through any book on Christmas traditions will reveal just how many little rules and superstitions governed the celebrations. The Yule Log, mistletoe, and wassail are all well-known examples, but each of these had their own traditions wrapped around them: for example, while the Yule log was burning, in some areas of the world those with squints were forbidden to enter that house, and after Christmas the ashes of this log were kept for good luck and to kindle the next year’s log. Every area had its own version of these traditions and kept them alive for centuries. It was only in the Victorian era that Christmas as we know it began to appear: Christmas trees, although used since Martin Luther first cut one, became common; the first Christmas card appeared in the 1840s and quickly caught on by the end of the century; and hanging up stockings for Santa Claus soon became the norm.[1]
What is my point in all this? Well, comparing today’s Christmas to those of the past, what we see nowadays is a very watery, sparkly, and pretty meaningless holiday. In such an age of anxiety, we aren’t actually that far removed from our ancestors who also worried this time of year (although they worried over more pressing needs—food and warmth). By throwing away traditions, too, we throw away the meaning of the holiday, whether you are religious or simply are interested in the cyclitic passing of the seasons. Old-fashioned Christmases also brought us together more. Traditions such as mumming or hauling in the Yule log brought together families and neighbors; it was a comfort to have people surrounding you during the dark time of year, and this still holds today. And what could be more exciting than hanging the mistletoe?
I think it’s time to bring back the Christmas of yesteryear. Let’s have a pot of wassail bubbling on the stove, and a Lord of Misrule presiding over the festivities. Let’s sing and dance together, make Christmas cake, and tell ghost stories that make us think over the mystery of life. Because, no matter which way you look at it, life is what Christmas is all about.