Christmas Festive Season - An Ancient Winter Holiday Tradition

My own personal views of the festive season have, in my childhood and youth at least, been dominated by the gifts I would give and receive for Christmas, the Christmas trees and lights, the food and drink, the family gatherings and the parties. It never occurred to me then that the Christmas celebration was one that went back for over two thousand years.

Although the winter holiday season has changed to a very commercial affair, driven by the giving and receiving of gifts for Christmas,  in its winter origins it may very well be the oldest holiday that is shared across the many cultures of the world; it is traditionally celebrated during the winter season in the northern hemisphere. However, more recently in the southern hemisphere, you have Christmas celebrated in Australia and New Zealand.

Before Christmas itself was celebrated, people of Europe had established a tradition of a winter celebration; in fact, long before the birth of Jesus Christ even!  The Winter Solstice has always been a time to celebrate and rejoice; it is celebrated on December 21 in the northern hemisphere. The solstice heralded lengthening daylight, so it is no wonder that it was the time to celebrate, even if the worst of the winter weather was still to come. the celebration lifted the depression of long dark nights and short days. In ancient times  the longer days were important, as they gave the people more time to spend outside tending their crops and animals. 

In Scandinavia during the Winter Solstice, men and their sons used to go in to the woods to chop down a tree.  After the tree had been felled, a nicely sized log was cut out of it, and the men would carry the log back to the home.  This log was dubbed a Yule Log, and the Yule log was burned in the fireplace.  The entire time the Yule log burned, the family would feast.  Quite often, the Yule log might burn for a full 12 days!  Of course, as the Yule log burned it sent sparks out of the hearth and as the sparks flew out of the fire place, the family would count the sparks and each spark stood for a farm animal (a cow, a goat, a pig, etc) that would be born on their property that year.  It is important to note that farm animals were signs of wealth back then. 

You are probably more familiar today with the Christmas Yule log, a chocolate cake decorated like a log. But as you see, the origin is not just from Christmas, but a wider winter celebration. December and early January have been a "holiday season" for over 2 centuries.

In ancient pagan Rome, Saturnalia was a celebration of the Winter Solstice.  Saturnalia was celebrated in honour of the god of agriculture, who was named Saturn.  During the time of Saturnalia, the entire Roman empire was usually in a state of social disarray.  Servants and peasants spent time with and celebrate the holiday with people of higher classes, which was a rarity in those days.  The Saturnalia festival itself can last as long as an entire week in Rome.  During that time, people rejoiced all over  Rome.  "Eat, drink, and be merry'" was adhered to by all and sundry.  Shops and businesses are closed during the Festival of Saturnalia.  Following the first week of Saturnalia, the festival itself usually ends, but the Saturnalia period itself does not end. 

In addition to Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture, the Romans also worshipped an infant type god named Methra, who was carved out of a rock.  On Mithra's birthday, people also rejoiced, just as they did during Saturnalia.  The day of this rock god’s birthday was one of the most sacred days of the year for the Roman people.  It was a time for celebration and togetherness, and for family.

So, as you see, the winter holiday season has not always just been about gifts for Christmas.