Funny Christmas Wallpaper Biography
Many people think that the history of Christmas is simply all about the birth of Christ, the presents stemming form the gifts that he was given. However, it dates back much further and many of the traditions stem from very varied places.
Christmas Birth
Europeans used to celebrate the Winter Solstice which is the longest night. They would celebrate the rebirth of the sun as the nights got shorter again and they would kill livestock which would not survive through the winter and feast on them from late December to early January.
In Scandinavia the Norse people celebrated Yuletide where they would burnt giant log and feat until it burnt out.
In Rome, the festival of Saturnalia was celebrated from 17th to 24th December and there was feasting, gambling and the giving of gifts. Also roles were not upheld meaning slaves could disobey their masters and children did not need to do as they were told by their parents. There were also other festivals that occurred around this time as well.
Christmas Blessing
During the fourth century Christians decided that they needed a celebration around the solstice to compete with the pagan ones. Church leaders therefore decided on December 25th for the Feast of the Nativity and it increased in popularity and importance over the following years although Easter was still seen as more significant.
In the middle ages Christmas was a mix of feasting and drinking as well as caroling for money. Behavior tended to be riotous and so religious puritans began to show their disapproval. They felt that it was blasphemous to behave in such a manner while celebrating Christ and so Oliver Cromwell canceled it in 1645. Soldiers even had to check on people to make sure that they were not cooking meat. A similar viewpoint was taken by Puritan sin America and Yuletide was banned in Boston for 32 years.
Jesus Christ Jerusalem
By the late 18th century Christmas was celebrated again in much the manner it is today. Washington Irving from New York, write many Christmas stories which have laid the way for many of the traditions that are celebrated today. Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to Britain and a popular engraving of his family in front of it led to the tradition being taken up all over the country.
By the 20th century Christmas was a much more commercial event with presents tending to be the main focus.
Christmas Birth
Europeans used to celebrate the Winter Solstice which is the longest night. They would celebrate the rebirth of the sun as the nights got shorter again and they would kill livestock which would not survive through the winter and feast on them from late December to early January.
In Scandinavia the Norse people celebrated Yuletide where they would burnt giant log and feat until it burnt out.
In Rome, the festival of Saturnalia was celebrated from 17th to 24th December and there was feasting, gambling and the giving of gifts. Also roles were not upheld meaning slaves could disobey their masters and children did not need to do as they were told by their parents. There were also other festivals that occurred around this time as well.
Christmas Blessing
During the fourth century Christians decided that they needed a celebration around the solstice to compete with the pagan ones. Church leaders therefore decided on December 25th for the Feast of the Nativity and it increased in popularity and importance over the following years although Easter was still seen as more significant.
In the middle ages Christmas was a mix of feasting and drinking as well as caroling for money. Behavior tended to be riotous and so religious puritans began to show their disapproval. They felt that it was blasphemous to behave in such a manner while celebrating Christ and so Oliver Cromwell canceled it in 1645. Soldiers even had to check on people to make sure that they were not cooking meat. A similar viewpoint was taken by Puritan sin America and Yuletide was banned in Boston for 32 years.
Jesus Christ Jerusalem
By the late 18th century Christmas was celebrated again in much the manner it is today. Washington Irving from New York, write many Christmas stories which have laid the way for many of the traditions that are celebrated today. Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to Britain and a popular engraving of his family in front of it led to the tradition being taken up all over the country.
By the 20th century Christmas was a much more commercial event with presents tending to be the main focus.
Funny Christmas Wallpaper
