Ok, let's fire one across the fundamentalists bow. Recently the city of Boston tried to call their Christmas tree a 'Holiday tree' which of course got folks like Jerry Falwell all a titter. He is behind a movement to sue anyone who tries such un-Christian shenanigans. But the Mayor stepped up to the plate and said that he didn't care what the website called it, it's a Christmas tree. So in Jerry's honor let's take a little walk through the past and find out just how Christian our Christmas traditions are. Sherman, set the Wayback machine for the 10th century.
Doodly-doo, doodly-doo, doodly-doo
Scandinavia: The Norse goddess Frigga has a premonition that her son Baldur will soon be killed. Being a dutiful and loving mom she holds a great pow-wow and convinces all living things on Earth to not harm her son...all save one. She overlooked the lowly mistletoe. Loki, being the fun loving sort, hears about this, and hatches a clever scheme. While the other gods are having fun lobbing spears at Baldur, who deftly ducks every single one of them, Loki fashions a spear of mistletoe and pierces Baldur through the heart, thus shuffling him off his godly coil. Frigga, in a supernatural display of forgiveness, hangs the mistletoe from trees and declares that any who walk beneath shall receive a kiss of forgiveness. What a gal.
The Scandinavians also gave us the Yule celebration, which would begin on December 21, and last through January. To celebrate the winter Solstice they would bring home a large log which they would set alight to commemorate the return of the sun. They would feast and party until the log burned out, often taking up to 12 days. They believed that every spark from the log represented a calf or pig that was to be born that year.
Oh, those silly Vikings.
Sherman, set the Wayback for Ancient Rome.
Doodly-doo, doodly-doo, doodly-doo
Mid-December finds our toga-clad forebears preparing for a celebration of the god Saturn called the Saturnalia. As with most things Roman it started off as a night of worship of that particular god, and evolved into a week long festival of debauchery and celebration. Slaves and masters would trade places, and the peasantry would rule as kings. Gifts were exchanged at this time, usually made of silver, but that was more of a guideline than a rule. Christians attempted to co-opt this practice by placing Christ's Mass on December 25th, but the Saturnalian traditions of role reversal and general misconduct continued well into the Medieval times, with the Feast of Fools.
Sherman, Ancient Egypt!
Doodly-doo, doodly-doo, doodly-doo
A society that lives in the desert tends to revere things that grow, and the ancient Egyptians were no exception. On the shortest day of the year, December 21st, Egyptians would adorn their homes with green palm branches to represent life's victory over death. The evergreen was a part of the Roman Saturnalia celebration, and the ancient Druids used evergreen branches to frighten away evil spirits. Granted it was probably Martin Luther who first decorated a fir for Christmas, but the use of trees during religious celebrations is hardly an exclusive, Christian tradition.
Take us home, Sherman.
Doodly-doo, doodly-doo, doodly-doo
So here we are, back in the present.(hee hee, get it? present? oh never mind) Christians who get their panties in a wad over how Christmas is recognized would do well to study their history. Christmas didn't even exist before the 4th century, most of its traditions are based solidly in pagan ritual, and its observance has been a bone of contention between the various Christian factions right up to modern days. How's that for universal Truth?
Merry Festivus!
Marius
Sources:
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Religious_customs_and_celebrations
1 comment:
Awesome post Marius... being of the Jewish persuasion, I am frequently baffled by the *general* need of many Christians to offensively and defensively justify the religion they believe in at the expense of everyone else. In contrast, Jews are like, "we don't want you to be Jewish. Go away."
Is Christianity, especially the funamentalist form of it, so insecure about their faith that they need to ensure everyone is on the same page with them? Nevermind you can't get a word in edgewise before they start spouting Bible verse -- in multi-translated English, not the purportedly original aramaic or Hebrew which might give a more accurate expression of this collection of allegories.
Everyone, it's an evergreen tree. I'll call it a Holiday Tree or Christmas Tree or Hannukah Bush. They can come and try to sue me. What makes their way the only way? Inappropriate hubris, is what.
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