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Some holiday skeptics like to point out that December 25th is not really Jesus Christ's birthday. These scrooges like to point out that we may not even know the actual birthday of the Christian savior. But the history of Christmas is far more complex than that of Jesus' birthday. Christmas represents peace on earth, goodwill to men (and women), comfort and joy to all. These ideas help to sustain the soul of people. As winter sets in, and bleak grey days lie ahead for many, Christmas is a chance to reconnect with family and friends, and remember what is important to you.

Even before the birth of Christ (whenever it was) people were celebrating the beginning of winter for several reasons. Cattle would be slaughtered, so they would not have to be fed all winter and ale and wine would be fermented, ready to drink. The days, having grown shorter for six months, would now start to grow longer. The Winter Solstice was the perfect time for a celebration.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the Catholic Church hoped to further their cause by making Christmas align with the annual solstice celebrations. People were already celebrating, so why not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? Viola! The Christmas holiday was established.

Christmas traditions vary all over the world, but the American "traditions" of Christmas are fairly new and unique.

The earliest Christian Americans, the Puritans, thought Christmas to be too sacred a day for joyful singing, feasting and all the other frivolity that goes with the holidays. They fined people who demonstrated any Christmas spirit.

Christmas trees did not become en vogue in the US until the mid-nineteenth century, via Great Britain and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Albert brought tradition of Christmas trees from his homeland in Germany.

Christmas cards also started in Great Britain in the mid nineteenth century, as letters written by school children to their families. Christmas cards traveled across the pond in the latter part of the nineteenth century, when a German immigrant and Boston lithographer, Louis Prang began creating affordable cards that did not have to be imported from Europe. These early cards were actually "penny postcards".

Santa Clause, that "Jolly Old Elf" with eight reindeer was popularized in the United States by the poem "Twas the night before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in 1822. Santa Clause gained his red and white wardrobe by cartoonist Thomas Nash in 1881. Santa picked up his ninth reindeer, Rudolph, in 1939, as an advertising ploy by Montgomery Ward.

Christmas traditions in America reflect its unique heritage and culture. The continuing thread of each Christmas season is that of hope, love and charity. Sometimes it is easy to overlook these simple ideas, in the rush to find the perfect gift. But if you take a moment to reflect on what really makes you happy, I doubt you would find it in a store.

Learn more about this author, Lorri Mealey.
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