On Christmas, people exchange gifts based on the Christian tradition associated with Saint Nicholas,[47] and the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh which were given to the baby Jesus by the Magi.[48][49] The practice of gift giving in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia may have influenced Christian Christmas customs, but on the other hand the Christian "core dogma of the Incarnation, however, solidly established the giving and receiving of gifts as the structural principle of that recurrent yet unique event", because it was the Biblical Magi, "together with all their fellow men, who received the gift of God through man's renewed participation in the divine life. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter, and gold is the first color associated with Christmas, as one of the three gifts of the Magi, symbolizing royalty.[6] The Christmas tree was first used by German Lutherans in the 16th century, with records indicating that a Christmas tree was placed in the Cathedral of Strassburg in 1539, under the leadership of the Protestant Reformer, Martin Bucer.[18][19] However, not all scholars agree with Jones's findings, which he reiterated in a book-length study in 1978;[63] Howard G. Hageman, of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, maintains that the tradition of celebrating Sinterklaas in New York was alive and well from the early settlement of the Hudson Valley on.[64] Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States. They were popularised by Saint Francis of Assisi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe.[7] Different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources, and can vary from simple representations of the crib to far more elaborate sets – renowned manger scene traditions include the colourful Kraków szopka in Poland,[8] which imitate Kraków's historical buildings as settings, the elaborate Italian presepi (Neapolitan, Genoese and Bolognese),[9][10][11][12] or the Provençal crèches in southern France, using hand-painted terracotta figurines called santons.[13] In certain parts of the world, notably Sicily, living nativity scenes following the tradition of Saint Francis are a popular alternative to static crèches.[14][15][16] By the 13th century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of Francis of Assisi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language developed.[39] Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung by groups of wassailers, who went from house to house.[40] The songs now known specifically as carols were originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as "harvest tide" as well as Christmas.

Christmas traditions: crackers, mince pies, a kiss under the mistletoe, Father Christmas, how and where did they all begin? ... Christmas Day is an important Christian holiday and feast day, so attending church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself is an important Christmas tradition. It is also - with Easter - the time when most people ...

Related Content Holidays in the Elizabethan Era Victorian Christmas Cards The History of Christmas Carols A Medieval Christmas Women in the Middle Ages A Gallery of Bling through the Ages Free for the World, Supported by You World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Nowadays, electric lights may have replaced the candles on the tree, churches are not quite as busy as they used to be, the Yule log is now usually chocolate, and many of the cards have become electronic, but the traditions that have run through the centuries to celebrate Christmas Day continue each and every year to enchant and inspire as they have always done. The poor enjoyed more modest entertainment like cards and dice, carols, playing musical instruments, board games, telling folktales, and enjoying traditional party games like permitting one person to be the 'king of the feast' if they found a bean in the special bread or cake – everyone else then had to mimic the 'king' (a role-reversal game that echoed Saturnalia's similar 'Lord of Misrule'). Reversing the roles of the sexes, allowing apprentices to get the better of their masters, and having two commoners act as the 'king and queen of the feast' brought much hilarity and occasions for people to demonstrate their wit. From gift-giving to the sumptuous spread of a Christmas dinner table, this article traces the history of the celebrations from Roman times to the Victorian era when our modern take on the holiday was firmly established in both deed and literature.

Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them […] Santa Claus Santa Claus—otherwise known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle—has a long history steeped in Christmas traditions. Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister […] Stories Featured How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start Learn why we decorate trees, swap cookies and hide pickles and elves, among other traditions. Christmas Christmas, a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus, has evolved into a worldwide religious and secular celebration, incorporating many pre-Christian and pagan traditions into the festivities. History of Christmas Trees From millions of homes worldwide to the White House, the Christmas tree is a tradition that owes its popularity in part to a popular British queen. Today, he is thought of as the jolly man in red who brings toys to good girls and boys on Christmas Eve, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century.

Christmas is one of the most popular global holidays, with more than two billion people participating in Christmas traditions of some sort around the world every year. Even in countries with a small Christian population, Christmas remains an important celebration. Of course, not everyone celebrates Christmas in the same way.

One of the year's most important holidays for the Jewish diaspora and Israel, Hanukkah, is the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the triumph of the Maccabees over the Greeks. Hanukkah lasts eight days and celebrates food, fellowship, and tradition. Hanukkah involves lighting the menorah adding one candle each night.