How did Christmas become the predominant holiday in the U.S.?
1) Spiritual - A strong spiritual desire by Protestant Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ in their churches. Pressured their churches to offer Christmas services.
2) Greater emphasis on family due to emergence of the middle class – Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, Americans became more and more wealthy. Consequently, wives and children did not have to work in the factories to meet needs. They stayed home. Consequently, the home and not the factory became the center of American life. The growing middle class was more family-centric. Parents paid more attention to their children/took joy in their children. Christmas became the holiday for children. Christmas with its many traditions (feasts, exchanging of gifts, decorations) had a strong appeal to the middle class because they promoted family. Two works of literature played an important role in the appeal of Christmas by the middle class – a) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with its theme of Christmas being a time when people should be helping out/giving to the less fortunate (poor, sick, orphans, etc.). Having heard Dickens read A Christmas Carol at a local playhouse, an American factory owner informed his wife that he would be closing the factory on Christmas Day from now on. b) “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” or as it is more popularly known “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (For more see “Origin of Santa Claus” below.)
3) Commercialism – As Christmas grew in popularity among the middle class, commercial businesses discovered a spike in spending during the Christmas season. Businesses quickly viewed Christmas as a money maker. Commercial businesses promoted the Christmas season in order to make a profit. Incorporated Christmas traditions (Christmas tree, Santa Claus) into their advertising and created new ones (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) in order to encourage people to buy their merchandise.
After 1700 years, Christmas still has a multiple personality disorder nature to it – part pious/part profit; part religious/part secular; part Christian/part commercial. Because of its multiple personality disorder, many people, Christians and non-Christians, question the legitimacy of Christmas. Is it about celebrating the birth of the Christ child? Is it an excuse to party? Is it about family? Is it about making a profit? Is Christmas a creation of men designed to advance a religion? Christians also have problems with other aspects of Christmas such as the pagan traditions and the whole Santa Claus thing that seemingly undermine the true reason for celebrating Christmas.
As Christians, how are we to perceive Christmas? As it was intended by the early Church leaders, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The fact that the date they set for Jesus’ birth was the same as a popular pagan celebration should not detract from that. Their intentions were good and Biblical. Read I Corinthians 9:19-23. I don’t think the Apostle Paul would have a problem with the decision made by the early Church leaders. In order to win the pagans to Christ, the Church allowed them to keep their winter solstice celebration except now it honored Christ and not Saturn or Odin. The fact that the revelry often got out of control speaks more to the more weakness of humanity than the holiday itself. The same is true today. Do not perceive the commercialism of Christmas today as a failure of the holiday but more as a moral weakness of humanity. In other words, don’t blame Christmas for its multiple personality disorder; blame human nature. I for one enjoy Christmas. I enjoy everything about Christmas - the traditions, the decorations, the lights, the gifts, the music, Santa Claus, Rudolph, etc. For me, they do not detract from the true reason for celebrating Christmas - the birth of Jesus. They add to the joy
Origin of the Christmas tree
According to legend, the Christmas tree tradition began in the 1500’s with the father of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther. While walking through the forest on Christmas Eve, Luther was so moved by the beauty of the starlit fir trees that he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God’s creation. The Christmas tree did not gain world wide popularity until the 1840’s. In 1841 Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England. In 1848, a London newspaper published an engraving of the British royal family standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Afterwards, the custom spread quickly in Britain, U.S., and Canada.
Origin of the Nativity
The Nativity is a dramatization of the biblical story of Jesus’ birth, a practice begun by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 1220’s A.D. in Gretchio, Italy. He used figurines, candles, hay, and live animals. Quickly grew in popularity. Most Europeans were illiterate. They could not read the story of Christ’s birth. The Nativity scene enabled them to see and learn the story.
Origin of Santa Claus
The story of Saint Nicholas has many variations. The most popular is the following. St. Nicholas was a bishop in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in the early 300’s A.D. A widowed man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him but being too modest to help the man in public, (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plight and drops the bags of gold down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking. In honor of St. Nicholas, the Church set December 6 has St. Nicholas’ Day. Overtime, it became a day when parents gave gifts to their children. The children were told the gifts came from St. Nicholas. Good children awoke to gifts from St. Nicholas. Bad children received nothing. The legend of St. Nicholas travelled to Holland where he became known as Sinterklaas. Good children received gifts in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day. When many people from Holland immigrated to New England in the 1600’s and 1700’s, they brought the legend of Sinterklaas with them. In 1823, a newspaper published a poem called “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, or as it is better known today, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” written by an anonymous author. The poem set the mold for the Santa Claus we know today. In this poem Santa is established as a heavyset man pulled in a sleigh by eight reindeer (who are named for the first time.) He comes down the chimney, brings gifts to children, and puts the gifts in stockings. The poem was a huge success and was quickly printed in newspapers throughout the country. The story appealed to the middle class’ emphasis on family and taking joy in children. Children began looking out their windows on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus and his reindeer. The author turned out to be an Episcopal minister named Clement C. Moore who based it on a story he told to his daughter on Christmas Eve. Moore’s wife was of Dutch descent and was familiar with the Sinterklaas legend. Santa Claus's modern image was further defined by Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly, one of the nation’s leading newspapers.
Origin of Hannukah
Commencing on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrians. In 168 BC, members of the Jewish family Maccabee led a revolt against the Greek Syrians due to the policies of Syrian King Antiochus IV which were aimed at nullifying the Jewish faith. Part of this strategem included changing the Beit HaMikdash - the Holy Temple in Jerusalem - to a Greek temple complete with idolatry. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews won victory over the Syrians in 165 BC and reclaimed their temple.After cleansing the temple and preparing for its rededication, it was found there was not enough oil to light the N'er Tamid, an oil lamp present in Jewish houses of worship which represents eternal light. Once lit, the lamp should never be extinguished.
A search of the temple produced a small vial of undefiled oil -- enough for only one day. Miraculously, the Temple lights burned for eight days until a new supply of oil was brought. In remembrance of this miracle, one candle of the Menorah - an eight branched candelabra - is lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, which means dedication, is a Hebrew word when translated is commonly spelled Hanukah, Chanukah, and Hannukah due to different translations and customs.The tradition of receiving gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah is relatively new and due in part to the celebration's proximity to the Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS Pt. 1
The origin of Christmas and the many traditions associated with it are murky at best. No one knows when Christmas was first celebrated/acknowledged. Much of this has to do with the fact that early Christians (prior to 300 A.D.), never thought much about celebrating the birth of Christ. The only holiday (holy day) they recognized was Easter – Jesus’ death and resurrection. Overtime there was gathering interest among early Christian leaders to discover when exactly Jesus was born. Call it a curiosity factor. The problem was the Scriptures offered little to no guidance on what time of year Jesus was born. Efforts were made by Christian leaders to pin down a date. One early Church calendar gave March 28 as the date of Jesus’ birth. But nothing ever stuck until around the mid-300’s AD. In an early Church writing, a reference is made to the Feast of the Nativity (a precursor to Christmas) celebrated on December 25. By the Middle Ages (1050 AD), the Feast of the Nativity became known as Christ’s Mass, or Christmas.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Prelude to Christmas - the birth of John the Baptist
The events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist. A prelude to the Christmas story so to speak. Scripture readings - Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
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