As ubiquitous as it is today before 1224
there was no such thing as a nativity scene. Upon returning from Israel St.
Francis of Assisi was inspired to re-create the birth of Jesus with live
animals and actors. During that first display, the manger was also used as an
altar for Christmas Mass. From there, the nativity caught on like wildfire.
On the morning of December 25th, 1914, German
soldiers on the western front stepped out of their trenches and walked towards
Allied troops calling out “Merry Christmas” in English. What followed was one
of the greatest expressions of camaraderie in history. Soldiers mingled,
exchanged cigarettes, and even played a game of football. The event was dramatized
in the french film Joyeux Noel.
The "Twelve Days" don't end on Christmas Day — they
begin on it. the
"12 days of Christmas" don't begin on December 13 and end on
Christmas Day; they begin on Christmas Day and end on January 5, marking the
time of "merry-making" until the Epiphany. The singer's true love is
generously extending his or her gift-giving for nearly two weeks after
Christmas Day. (We're celebrating now anyway.)
A popular abbreviation
for Christmas, the X represents the Greek letter Chi, or the first letter of
the word “Christ”. During the 16th Century, European Christians began using the
Chi as a symbolic abbreviation for Christmas just as the Chi-Rho had often been
used a symbolic abbreviation for Christ. Although in former centuries this
association was understood, in recent times this has led to misunderstanding
and controversy.
Every year since 1947 Oslo has sent a Christmas tree
to London as an expression of gratitude for the United Kingdom’s help in World
War II.
By an Act of Parliament
in 1644 Christmas was declared illegal in England due to the fact that it was
associated with revelry and merrymaking. This obviously led to a good amount of
conflict and when the Puritans left for the New World they brought their
distaste for Christmas with them.
For centuries, holly has been
synonymous with the holiday season. In ancient Rome, holly branches were given
as a gesture of friendship during Saturnalia, the winter solstice festival.
Druids would decorate their homes with holly during Britain's gloomy winters,
believing that the sun always shone on this sacred tree. Likewise, pagans would
bring holly and other evergreens inside to ensure that Nature would return in
the spring
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